Australia news live: Chemist Warehouse to list publicly as $8.8bn giant; AFP warn of fake United Nations drug mule scam
Chemist Warehouse will become a listed company through a merger with Sigma Healthcare, creating an £8.8bn pharmacy giant.
Chemist Warehouse will own more than 85% of the merged company, with founders of the discount pharmacy chain Mario Verrocchi and Jack Gance to hold executive positions, according to details released to the stock exchange today.
Gance said:
The combination of CWG’s retailing and marketing capabilities and Sigma’s state-of-the-art distribution network and logistics capabilities presents a unique opportunity for both CWG and Sigma shareholders.
Gance and Verrochi founded Chemist Warehouse in 2000 with a Melbourne store. The company expanded to become Australia’s largest pharmacy retailer, and is set to become even larger, given Sigma operates its own pharmacy network.
The Pharmacy Guild raised concerns over the proposed merger last week due to the potential impact on competition as well as community ownership of pharmacies.
The transaction is a reverse listing, whereby the privately-owned Chemist Warehouse becomes a publicly traded company by merging with a smaller listed company, Sigma.
Sigma’s board has recommended shareholders vote in favour of the deal. Shareholders will receive a stake in the merged company and £700m in cash.
Steven Miles would not answer whether he had the numbers to become Queensland’s next premier, following numerous questions from reporters.
He reiterated that today, his focus is on responding to the cyclone:
I am focused, absolutely focused, on delivering better … for Queenslanders and today that means focusing on preparedness for this cyclone and taking care of the Queenslanders who will be impacted by [this].
I think the best case I can put is by demonstrating just how I would lead, and that is how I would lead, with 100% absolute focus on the safety and well-being of Queensland.
The Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles is speaking to the media following premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s resignation yesterday.
The press conference has centred around Queensland’s emergency response to tropical cyclone Jasper. Asked whether he has the numbers to become Queensland’s next premier, Miles responded:
I understand you’re interested in that. My focus today is absolutely 100% on the safety of Queenslanders in making sure we are adequately prepared for the cyclone.
I hope you understand I’m not gonna let this press conference be sidetracked.
You all know my position, I issued a statement yesterday.
Fire near Tenterfield burning at advice level as crews continue battling blaze
The NSW Rural Fire Service is continuing to battle a bushfire near Tenterfield, supported by waterbombing aircraft and heavy machinery.
#RFS firefighters, supported by waterbombing aircraft and heavy machinery continue working at the Trap Mountain Dumaresq Valley Fire. It will take some time to control the fire, burning in remote country, 55km SW of Tenterfield. Residents in the area should monitor conditions. pic.twitter.com/T0iLrXQ6Jx[1][2]
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 11, 2023[3]
The bushfire is burning east of the Beardy River and south of Bruxner Highway, about 55km south-west of Tenterfield.
It is burning at advice level, meaning there is no immediate danger and people should stay up to date in case the situation changes.
A man has been charged over the Daylesford Hotel beer garden crash that killed five people.
He is due to appear in the Melbourne magistrates court today.
Detectives this morning charged the 66-year-old man with five counts of culpable driving causing death, two counts of negligently causing serious injury and seven counts of reckless conduct endangering life.
Pratibha Sharma, 44, her daughter Anvi, 9, and partner Jatin Kumar, 30, and their friend Vivek Bhatia, 38, and his son Vihaan, 11, all died during the incident in the Daylesford Hotel beer garden in November.
You can
You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you well before the flames reach you.
Western Power has advised 105 homes and businesses power supply has been affected by the bushfire in Howatharra and Nabawa.
The Midwest region is home to broadacre grain cropping operations and sheep and cattle grazing.
Albanese’s migration plan is to ‘appease’ Peter Dutton, Greens senator argues
Greens senator Nick McKim has criticised the government’s newly-announced migration plan.
Amy Remeikis brought us all the details here[5], but essentially, the Albanese government is planning to reduce migrant intakes by raising the bar for international students and some workers to get a visa.
And as Paul Karp points out in this column[6], the strategy makes the link between housing and migration by noting that when investment in housing “does not occur, public confidence in the migration system can erode”.
In a series of posts to X/Twitter, McKim argued the migration plan is an attempt by the government to “appease” opposition leader Peter Dutton.
He also said Australia’s housing crisis is “not the fault of migrants”:
It’s the result of decades of deliberate underinvestment in social housing by both major parties.
McKim continued:
Appeasing Peter Dutton on migration issues hasn’t worked for the past decade and it will not work now. He will pocket whatever concessions he gets and take another giant step to the right.
The people of this country voted the Liberals out of office last year – it seems everyone except Mr Albanese has realised this fact.
The assistant minister for foreign affairs, Tim Watts, has met with Jordan’s minister of foreign affairs, Ayman Safadi.
I met with @AymanHsafadi, and thanked him for Jordan’s active diplomacy to prevent regional escalation of the conflict and support for Australians leaving the West Bank. pic.twitter.com/IBJeR8VkJ4[7][8]
— Tim Watts MP (@TimWattsMP) December 10, 2023[9]
In a post to X/Twitter, Watts said he thanked Safadi for Jordan’s “active diplomacy to prevent regional escalation of the conflict and support for Australians leaving the West Bank”.
We discussed necessary steps for an enduring solution to the conflict, and reaffirmed our commitment to a two-state solution as the pathway for enduring peace.
Emergency bushfire warning near Geraldton, Western Australia
An emergency bushfire warning is in place near Geraldton in Western Australia, encompassing:
People west of Dillistone Road and Bella Vista Road to the coastline, between Wells Road and the mouth of Oakajee River in the south to Oakabella Creek, Yarra Road, Starling Road and Bunter Way in the north in parts of Howatharra, Oakajee, White Peak and Bowes in Chapman Valley and Northhampton.
Emergency WA warns that people in these areas are in danger and need to act immediately, with a threat to lives and homes.
120 firefighting personnel have responded to the fire, with aerial support also sent to protect crews and homes.
People on both sides of North West Coastal Highway, south of Coronation Beach Road and Nanson Howatharra Road from Dillistone Road to the coastline and north of Wells Road and the mouth of Oakajee River are being warned it is too late to leave and to seek shelter in your home.
Meanwhile, people north of Coronation Beach Road and south of Yarra Road, including parts of Starling Road between North West Coastal Highway and the coastline and for people bound by North West Coastal Highway, Nanson-Howatharra Road, Bella Vista Road and Bunter way are being urged to leave now for a safer place if the way is clear.
Palaszczuk was ‘pushed out of office’, David Crisafulli says
Annastacia Palaszczuk’s resignation came after months of pressure by members of the Labor caucus, escalating last week as former Labor luminaries like Robert Schwarten lined up to call for new blood at the top. Union officials including powerful United Workers’ Union chief Gary Bullock reportedly withdrew his support of Palaszczuk last week.
Queensland LNP opposition leader David Crisafulli told ABC radio this morning:
Make no mistake that she has been pushed out of office and Queensland should have been the one that got a chance to be able to decide who runs the state.
We’ve got a state election in less than a year away.
Palaszczuk endorsed her deputy premier, Steven Miles, to replace her on Sunday.
MPs vying to replace Palaszczuk ‘actively undermined’ the premier, Queensland[10] LNP opposition leader says
Queensland LNP opposition leader David Crisafulli has alleged premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was “pushed from office” by the three MPs now vying to replace her.
In case you missed it – in a surprise press conference yesterday, Palaszczuk announced she was retiring from politics after months of insisting she would contest the next election.
Crisafulli told ABC radio this morning that all three contenders for the leadership – Steven Miles, Cameron Dick and Shannon Fentiman – had been guilty of “actively undermining their leader”.
Part of the reason why I think this has left a bad taste in Queenslanders’ mouth is we’ve got a cyclone bearing down on the far northern coast, we’ve had probably the worst week of youth crime ripping through Townsville.
I’m about to drive to Moreton Bay to meet council to hear about their pressures in terms of the housing crisis in a growing area.
And instead of focusing on the health crisis, the housing crisis, the cost-of-living crisis and the youth crime crisis, the government’s at war with themselves. And I’m sorry [but] nobody wins when governments are consumed by politics rather than listening to issues, and that’s where things have reached.
PM wishes Year 12 students ‘good luck’ for results and future
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has shared a message for Year 12 students across the country, who are receiving their final results this week.
As we flagged earlier[11], Victorian Year 12 students were the first to receive their VCE results today.
In a series of posts to X/Twitter, Albanese wrote:
Good luck to all the year 12s around the country who have started getting their results this week. No matter the result that you get, you should be proud of the effort you’ve put in.
Whether you choose uni, TAFE, work or something else, your future is what you make of it.
And make sure you check out the fee-free TAFE courses on offer from next year.
Thank you to all the teachers and school staff who have supported students every step of the way.
Well done to all of you, and I can’t wait to see what you do next.
The defamation trial brought by Bruce Lehrmann against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson is continuing today – you can follow the live updates below, on our separate liveblog from Amanda Meade:
As an international human rights barrister, it is incumbent upon me to take a stand for peace, freedom, humanity, the rule of law and the international rules-based order – which are under dire threat of losing all credibility and meaning with the current situation in Gaza.
I’m calling on National Cabinet and the Australian Government to demand an immediate ceasefire to the ongoing devastation in Gaza, which has brought global condemnation of Israel for war crimes and genocide of the Palestinians.
Traffic lights stop working in South Australian eastern suburbs
South Australian police are warning motorists to drive with caution this morning, with reports of traffic lights being out at intersections.
The reports are mostly coming from the eastern suburbs, along along Fullarton Road, Glynburn Road and North East Road Tea Tree Gully, police said.
If lights out, approach with caution and obey normal give way rules.
Take care on the roads this morning.
Lots of reports of traffic lights out at intersections, especially in the eastern suburbs, along Fullarton Road, Glynburn Road and North East Road Tea Tree Gully.
If lights out, approach with caution and obey normal give way rules. pic.twitter.com/Fn2Uf9rtae[13]
— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) December 10, 2023[14]
References
- ^ #RFS (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/T0iLrXQ6Jx (t.co)
- ^ December 11, 2023 (twitter.com)
- ^ Man charged over Daylesford hotel beer garden crash that left five people dead