TRANSCRIPT
- Anthony Albanese says no payback deal was struck to release remaining Bali Nine.
- Appointments announced for the Reserve Bank's new monetary policy board.
- And in football, Tottenham Hotspur soars and Manchester City stumbles in the Premier League.
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Prime minister Anthony Albanese says no payback deal was struck with Indonesia to secure the release of the remaining Bali 9 members.
On Sunday, Mr Albanese announced that five Australians who have spent almost 20 years in Indonesian prisons for heroin trafficking had returned home.
The five were among a gang of nine Australian smugglers arrested on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali in 2005.
Two convicted ringleaders of the Bali Nine were executed by a firing squad in 2015, causing a diplomatic furore between the neighbouring countries.
Mr Albanese says the five men have now returned to Australia as free citizens, thanking Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for the men’s release.
"This is an act of compassion by President Prabowo and we thank him for it. After 19 years in Indonesian prison, it was time for them to come home."
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An economics professor and a regional bank chief have been announced as inaugural appointments to the Reserve Bank of Australia's new interest rate-setting board.
Australian National University professor Renee Fry-McKibbin and former Bendigo and Adelaide Bank chief executive Marnie Baker will make up the central bank's new monetary policy board alongside four continuing RBA board members.
The RBA's board has been split in two. One board will look at monetary policy - and the other board will be responsible for the bank's governance.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the reforms and appointment process has been rigorous and robust.
"I am very proud to say that women will make up the majority of both boards and this continues the very substantial progress that we've made when it comes to the Treasury portfolio. Six of nine of the governance board - and five of nine on the monetary policy board. The new board will begin from the 1st of March, so it is after the February meeting - and not before."
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Two Australians hospitalised in a suspected mass alcohol poisoning event are on their way home as Fiji reassures tourists of their safety.
Another two Australians are among a total of seven people hospitalised, and the federal government is providing consular assistance to two families.
It comes after two Australians died in Laos from a suspected mass ethanol poisoning.
The father and grandfather of two of the Australians, said his daughter and grandaughter had been discharged from hospital and received confirmation they were medically fit to travel.
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Britain has announced a 99 million-dollar aid package to help vulnerable Syrians after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad last week.
Millions of Syrians need humanitarian assistance after more than a decade of civil war that shattered much of the country's infrastructure, displacing large numbers of people.
The money will provide immediate help for more than a million people including food, shelter, emergency healthcare.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy says despite concerns about the future direction of HTS, the UK recognises the sense of hope on the streets of Syria.
“They (HTS) remain a proscribed organisation. This was an organisation that came out of al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda is responsible for a tremendous loss of life on British soil. We will judge them by their actions. I won’t comment on future proscription but of course, we recognise that this is an important moment for Syria. There is huge hope on the streets in Syria and by signing up to the Aqaba Principles we are signing up to an inclusive opportunity that is Syrian-led and Syrian-owned.”
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Pep Guardiola's Manchester City continues their slump while Ange Postecoglou's spurs make an emphatic statement.
City haven't had a run of results this bad in 21 years, with their latest loss today to local rivals Manchester United.
They held the lead until the 88th minute when Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot.
Amad Diallo then pounced with a last-minute goal to give new manager Ruben Amorim his first derby victory.
Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham have moved into the top half of the table in dramatic fashion.
Spurs ran riot at Southampton's home ground, scoring five goals in the first half.
Postecoglou says he was proud of his squad who triumphed despite a swathe of injuries and suspensions.
"As I said we've got 10 players unavaliable out of a list of 25 - to have that start and energy was outstanding."
Southampton sacked manager Russell Martin immediately after the full time whistle.
