Category: Australian News

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Spokesperson for International Aid and Global Justice, has called on the Australian Government to make a substantial contribution to rebuilding Gaza, saying Australia has a moral obligation to do so, especially given its failure to take any action to stop the genocide and destruction.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“Australia has a moral obligation to contribute generously to rebuilding Gaza as part of a self-determined Palestinian state. Aid cannot just be the token amounts announced so far, it must be substantial. Aid to Gaza must be many times more than the $1.5 billion to Ukraine, given the scale of death and destruction of Israel’s genocide.

“There must be a big push to open all crossings, forcing Israel to let all the aid in and rebuild roads for faster distribution of desperately-needed food, water and other supplies.

“Australia must atone for its role in supplying F-35 parts and steel to the Israeli war machine that killed so many men, women and children. Our complicity demands accountability and reparations.

“UNRWA is the key United Nations agency providing relief and supporting the human development of Palestinian refugees. Australia must channel a significant portion of its funding through UNRWA, which it shamefully helped delegitimise based on flimsy Israeli propaganda.

“Israel has destroyed or damaged almost all infrastructure – schools, universities, hospitals and the vast majority of homes.

“Rebuilding Gaza must go hand in hand with justice and accountability. It must be coupled with holding Israel to account for the carnage it has caused and for the genocide it committed on the Palestinian people.

“The Palestinian people are not yet free. Israel still controls their borders, their movement, their aid, their resources and their future. Rebuilding must be part of a broader push for lasting freedom, justice and self-determination by Palestinians – not crony capitalists like is currently proposed.”

The Coalition extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Australian Army soldier who tragically passed away following a training incident near the Townsville Field Training Area.

Our thoughts are also with the two other ADF personnel who were seriously injured, their families, and their fellow service members during this difficult time. 

Incidents like this are a stark reminder of the risks our Defence personnel face, even in training, in their commitment to serve and protect our nation with pride.

We also acknowledge and thank the first responders and medical teams who are providing care and support.

The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), is a tight-knit infantry unit. In times of tragedy, their strength as a community is clear. 

We extend our condolences to them as they rally around one another in the face of this heartbreaking loss.

The Minns Labor Government continues to deliver for regional NSW, today announcing that the full 42.5-tonne load limit on the Scabbing Flat Bridge at Geurie will be reinstated just in time for the 2025 summer harvest season.

The historic timber truss bridge is a key freight and farming route in the state’s Central West and the Minns Government has been carrying our essential repair and strengthening works to restore the bridge to its full load capacity and improve safety for all road users.

Over 15 months of work, repair crews have replaced ageing timber, repaired bridge piers and installed a temporary Bailey bridge to support the structure while truss restoration work continues.

The progression of the strengthening works means local farmers and freight operators will be able to move their produce across the bridge safely and efficiently this harvest season.

From noon today (17 October), the 42.5-tonne limit will be reinstated.

Some temporary traffic conditions will remain in place, including a 20 km/h speed limit and 3.4-metre lane width restriction while final truss repairs continue.

Wider vehicles will still need to use approved detours via Wellington or Dubbo, and occasional closures of up to 15 minutes may be needed to allow crews to work safely.

Once the truss work is complete later this year, the Bailey Bridge will be removed, and normal traffic conditions will return.

For real-time updates, visit www.livetraffic.com or follow “Geurie – the Bailey bridge Arthurville Road” in the Live Traffic app.

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“This is welcome news for farmers, freight operators and everyone who relies on this vital local link.

“We know how important this bridge is to farmers and the local economy, and crews have worked around the clock to make sure it was back to full strength in time for harvest.

“As the party of the bush, the Minns Labor Government is investing in regional infrastructure, fixing roads and bridges, and getting on with the job of delivering safer, stronger connections for regional communities across our state.

“I want to thank the Mayor of Dubbo Cr Josh Black who has been a tireless advocate for farmers and producers in getting this bridge re-opened.”

Labor Duty MLC for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence MLC said:

“The Scabbing Flat Bridge is critical Central West freight infrastructure, and it’s outstanding that it comes back online prior to harvest. This change means safer and more efficient transport for farmers and freight operators, and supports local jobs and the local economy.”

Mayor of Dubbo Regional Council Cr Josh Black said:

“Our community has been waiting a long time for this moment, and it’s fantastic to see the bridge back to full strength in time for harvest.

“Scabbing Flat Bridge is a vital connection for our farmers and freight operators, and these works will make a real difference to local productivity and safety.

“We thank the Minns Government for listening to the community and getting this project done.”

Head of Supply Chain for GrainCorp Josh Connell said: 

“We welcome the NSW Government’s investment in regional infrastructure. This upgrade will provide long-term value for the grain industry, helping to connect local growers to domestic and export opportunities.

“Investment that improves road access and freight efficiency is good for growers, the broader supply chain and the environment. Upgrades that enable higher productivity vehicles can lower carbon emissions while also improving safety by supporting newer equipment.

“With another busy harvest approaching in NSW, targeted investment in freight routes is essential to maintaining supply chain reliability and delivering strong outcomes for growers.”

The NSW Opposition is wishing all students preparing to sit their Higher School Certificate the best of luck as exams officially commence today.
 
Of the cohort, almost 75,000 students are on track to complete their studies while more than 9,000 took on one or more HSC course before they reach Year 12.
 
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman congratulated them on such an important milestone.
 
“This is a time to focus on the task ahead but it’s also a time to celebrate and reflect on everything you’ve achieved over the course of your studies,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“No matter how the exams go, or what results you get, every student should take satisfaction in getting to this point as it will give them a strong foundation for success in their post-school lives.”
 
NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders encouraged students to try and enjoy some down time.
 
“This will be a stressful period as students put into practice everything they’ve learnt over the past 13 years but remember it’s not the be all and end all and everyone should just do their best,” Mr Saunders said.
 
“It’s also important to do the things you love, whether that be hanging out with family and friends, playing sport, or just getting out of the house to recharge the brain batteries when needed.”
 
Shadow Education Minister Sarah Mitchell also commended everyone who has been a part of the journey.
 
“I want to say a big thank you to all the staff, including principals, leaders, teachers, and school administrative support teams who work tirelessly to give our children the best education possible,” Mrs Mitchell said.
 
“To all the students who might be feeling a little nervous today, just know you’ve got this and we’re cheering you on every step of the way.”

Our Victorian state MP, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell has moved the following motion in parliament – 

That this House —

(1)   notes that —

(a)   the Australian national flag and the Victorian state flag are enduring symbols of the nation, representing Australian and Victorian history, values and unity;

(b)   the deliberate desecration of the Australian and Victorian flags are not harmless acts of protest but a threatening act of aggression, a symbolic call to violence against Australia, its institutions and its people;

(c)   77 per cent of Australians polled by the Institute of Public Affairs believe that burning the Australian national flag should be against the law;

(d)   63 per cent of Australians polled by the Institute of Public Affairs believe that those who burn the Australian national flag should face jail time;

(e)   71 per cent of Australians polled by the Institute of Public Affairs believe that non-citizens who burn the Australian national flag should be deported; and

(2)   calls on the Allan Labor Government to enact legislation to criminalise the desecration of the Australian national and Victorian state flags.

I am pleased to announce that the Governor-General has agreed to the appointment of Ms Kathy Klugman as the next Director-General of National Intelligence, the head of the Office of National Intelligence.

Ms Klugman will take up her appointment when the current Director-General, Mr Andrew Shearer completes his term of appointment.

Ms Klugman is the first woman to lead the Office of National Intelligence or its predecessor the Office of National Assessments.

Ms Klugman has had a distinguished career in the Australian Public Service holding senior positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. She has had a particular focus on the Indo-Pacific region and served as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

As a Deputy Secretary at DFAT, she led the Department’s Development and Multilateral Group and oversaw Australia’s Centre for Regional Health Security and chaired the Department’s Aid Governance Board.

Before that, Ms Klugman led the Pacific Division of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and oversaw the establishment of the expanded Office of the Pacific in DFAT, charged with advancing Australia’s Pacific Step Up.  She held senior positions covering policy and strategy for Southeast Asia and South Asia, including as Australia’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. She led the International Division of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Ms Klugman was most recently Principal Adviser to the Prime Minister, International, a position she has held since 2022.

I would like to thank Mr Shearer for his significant contribution as Director General since 2020. I am pleased that he agreed to continue to serve the Australian people in a new capacity.

Family First NSW Upper House candidate Lyle Shelton today announced that, if elected, he will move for a Parliamentary inquiry into the support of terrorist organisations by Australian Muslim groups and clerics.

The inquiry will examine how open advocacy for groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Hizb ut-Tahrir has been allowed to flourish in Australia despite laws prohibiting the advocacy of terrorism.

“Recent revelations show a disturbing pattern of prominent Muslim leaders and organisations in Australia supporting or expressing sympathy for proscribed terrorist groups,” Mr Shelton said.

“This is a matter of national security.”

Mr Shelton said his pledge for an inquiry was prompted by multiple revelations reported by The Daily Telegraph:

Dr Ali Al Samail, a cleric appointed by the Minns Government to advise on Jewish community safety, was revealed to have urged his congregation to pressure Labor to de-list Hamas and Hezbollah — which would allow their supporters to recruit, train, and fundraise in Australia.

The Arrahman Benevolent Society in Kingsgrove, whose co-director Youssef Nabha has publicly vowed the downfall of Israel, received $33,000 in taxpayer-funded grants from the Minns Government — including for “social cohesion” and “security upgrades” — despite long-standing ties to Hezbollah.

The Telegraph reported: “Three months after Premier Minns’ grant, Masjid Arrahman eulogised ‘righteous martyr’ and ‘master of resistance’ Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah in a three-day vigil.”

Speakers at last week’s Hizb ut-Tahrir-linked Bankstown rally openly celebrated the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks, chanted “From the river to the sea”, and praised “Muslim armies” for “resisting Zionists.”

One of the speakers, notorious cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun, declared himself on October 8, 2023, “elated” after the slaughter, rape and kidnapping of Israeli civilians.

“Many of these leaders are not fringe individuals — these are people invited to advise governments, given public money, and platformed in our suburbs,” Mr Shelton said.

“The public deserves to know how this happened, and why no one in authority has acted.”

Mr Shelton said the proposed inquiry will:

• Investigate how organisations and clerics with sympathies for terrorist groups have escaped prosecution under the Criminal Code’s provisions against advocating terrorism;

• Examine due diligence failures in state and federal grant programs that have funnelled taxpayer money to extremist-linked organisations;

• Assess the impact on national security of allowing anti-Israel, pro-terror rhetoric to go unchecked.

“Calling for the destruction of the State of Israel and glorifying terrorist violence is incompatible with Australian values,” Mr Shelton said.

“A public inquiry is needed to ensure that those who benefit from Australia’s freedoms are not working to undermine them.”

Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil, will travel to the Kingdom of Tonga today to represent the Australian Government at the commissioning ceremony for His Majesty’s Armed Forces’ new landing craft, VOEA Late, at the Masefield Naval Base. 

Delivered under the Albanese Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program, VOEA Late will strengthen Tonga’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief during times of need, as well as its ability to deter, detect and disrupt illegal maritime activities across the region.

His Majesty King Tupou VI will formally commission the vessel, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, will also attend the ceremony.

Australia will continue to support the Tongan Royal Navy via a through-life maintenance and sustainment package, along with training for crew members to ensure the vessel’s operational readiness. 

The commissioning of VOEA Late is the latest demonstration of the enduring strength of the Australia and Tonga bilateral relationship and follows the recent signing of a Statement of Intent announcing a shared commitment to elevate ties between our two nations under the proposed ‘Kaume’a ‘Ofi’ (close trusted friendship) Partnership Agreement.

Today’s ceremony marks the vessel’s official entry into service, following its delivery and handover at Masefield Naval Base on 29 August 2025. 

Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil:

“It’s an honour to attend VOEA Late’s commissioning by His Majesty King Tupou VI, and see the vessel officially transition into active service.

“Australia is proud to partner with Tonga on maritime security and disaster preparedness so we can further the close relationship between our defence forces.

“Our Pacific Maritime Security Program is a 30-year commitment to invest in maritime security partnerships throughout the Pacific and reinforce Australia’s role as the security partner of choice for our Pacific neighbours. 

“Now more than ever, we remain focused on supporting the maritime security needs of our partners in the region.” 

The Victorian Greens have welcomed the Premier’s announcement this morning that the government will introduce reforms to make life easier for renters across the state.

These are reforms the government first announced last year under sustained pressure from the Greens and the community to do more to fix the worsening rental crisis.

The Greens also helped secure the new ban on rent bidding and no-grounds evictions that will come into effect in November.

But while landlords and real estate agents can still exploit renters and jack up rent prices as much as they like, renting will remain unaffordable and insecure.

The Greens will keep fighting for rent controls so everyone can afford a roof over their head and save enough to buy a home for themselves.

Last month a Tenants Victoria report found that renters continued to face outrageous rent hikes, with 80% of rental providers raising rents in the past two years, with an average rental increase of 17%.

This is despite CPI increasing by only 2.4% in the last year.

Victorian Greens renters rights spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri MP:

“These are no-brainer reforms that will help stop landlords taking advantage of renters and using bonds to profit off renters.

“The Greens have pushed for this for years alongside the community, to help alleviate the worsening housing crisis.

“But they’re a clear sign of the power imbalance between landlords and renters. As long as unlimited rent rises are legal, renters will live in fear of the next rent hike, and be forced to move time and again just to try to afford the rent. 

“If Labor actually cared about protecting renters – not just property developers and investors – they would introduce rent controls.”

Australia welcomes President Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas have signed off the first phase of the plan to bring peace to Gaza.

After more than two years of conflict, hostages held and a devastating loss of civilian life, this is a much needed step towards peace.

Australia has consistently been part of international calls for a ceasefire, return of the hostages, and the unimpeded flow of aid to Gaza.

We urge all parties to respect the terms of the plan.

We thank President Trump for his diplomatic efforts and acknowledge the important role of Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye in delivering this agreement.

Australia strongly supports the plan’s commitment to denying Hamas any role in the future governance of Gaza. 

There is a very long road to recovery in Gaza, securing long term peace and building the Palestinian state. 

Together with our partners, Australia will continue to do what we can to contribute to a just and enduring two-state solution.