Australia news live: Chalmers responds to One Nation’s WA byelection win as government funds Indigenous racism register

Jim Chalmers says he has been thinking deeply about the message from voters after One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen won 57% of the preference vote at the Secret Harbour byelection in Western Australia.

Speaking on ABC’s 7.30, the treasurer said inflation, the cost of living and real wages had been among the concerns on voters’ minds. “I have thought very deeply about the legitimate concerns and anxieties and frustrations that people have. About how the economy works, or doesn’t work for people. That’s the thing I’m most focused on. It’s the whole reason for our efforts to get inflation down, to make the economy more productive.”

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I have thought very deeply about the legitimate concerns and anxieties and frustrations that people have. About how the economy works, or doesn’t work for people. That’s the thing I’m most focused on. It’s the whole reason for our efforts to get inflation down, to make the economy more productive.

Chalmers said he believed the “faultline in our politics” was changing. “It’s not necessarily between the centre left and the far right, it’s not necessarily the old distinctions. The distinction in our politics right now is a Labor government working to address the very real concerns that people have, versus the Liberals and Nationals and One Nation who just want to prey on that, and pick on that.”

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It’s not necessarily between the centre left and the far right, it’s not necessarily the old distinctions. The distinction in our politics right now is a Labor government working to address the very real concerns that people have, versus the Liberals and Nationals and One Nation who just want to prey on that, and pick on that.

The government also announced up to $2 million in Commonwealth funding for Call It Out, an online register documenting racism and discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said the parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate and violence had heard confronting accounts. “While we await the committee’s final report, we are not waiting to act. This investment will strengthen the important work of Call It Out and support efforts to collate rigorous data.”

Australia will provide a further $3 million in aid for the deadly floods in the Nepal-Tibet region, taking its total pledge to $11 million. Specialist drone operators from Fire and Rescue New South Wales and Queensland’s fire department will join search and rescue efforts. Thirty-eight Australians remain unaccounted for, while Nepal’s disaster agency reported 1,204 confirmed deaths and 4,216 missing people, including 583 foreigners.

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While we await the committee’s final report, we are not waiting to act. This investment will strengthen the important work of Call It Out and support efforts to collate rigorous data.