Category: Australian News

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.

Family First has welcomed the Northern Territory Government’s landmark decision to ban biological males from women’s prisons and has reaffirmed that, if elected at the upcoming state elections, its Upper House candidates will move legislation to ensure the same protections in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.
 
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro declared: “There should be no men in women’s prisons, full stop… if you are a man and you’re fundamentally equipped as a man, then you belong in a men’s prison.”
 
Family First Upper House candidates Deepa Mathew (SA), Bernie Finn and Jane Foreman (VIC), and Lyle Shelton (NSW) said the move stands in stark contrast to the ideological confusion that has gripped other states.
 
“Ms Finocchiaro’s stand is just common sense,” said Mr Finn. “It’s shocking that it takes the Northern Territory to remind southern states that women have the right to safety and dignity.”
 
The call follows the shocking case in South Australia: where a female prisoner, known as Katie, was allegedly sexually assaulted by a violent trans-identifying male inmate, Krista Richards, formerly known as Leslie Graham Richards, at Port Augusta Prison. Richards — a convicted would-be hitman with a history of violence against women — was housed with Katie despite prison authorities knowing his record.
 
“Every woman in Australia should be horrified by what happened to Katie,” said South Australian Family First candidate Deepa Mathew. “A woman was trapped in a cell with a man — a violent offender — because LGBTIQA+ ideology trumped common sense. It’s hard to imagine a more grotesque betrayal of women’s rights. No government that allows this can claim to care about women’s safety.”
 
Family First noted that both Labor and Liberal parties in southern states have failed to take such a clear position. In Victoria, Opposition Leader Brad Battin recently said he supported biological men who identify as women being housed in women’s prisons so long as they are not sex offenders — a position Family First described as a good start but “timid and incoherent.”
 
“The issue is not just sex offenders — it’s about protecting women from the risk, trauma and indignity of being locked up with men,” said Ms Foreman.
 
Queensland’s now Health Minister Tim Nicholls went further in June 2023, telling Parliamen “I completely endorse the findings of the committee that there is no evidence whatsoever that transwomen are any more likely to commit offences than other women are. There is no reason for fear of those things (biological males taking advantage of girls and women).”
 
Family First called this statement “disgracefully out of touch” given multiple cases of biological males assaulting women in prison — including the South Australian case that sparked national outrage.
 
“This comes barely a week after the Sex Discrimination Commissioner admitted she doesn’t even ‘understand the term biological man’,” said Mr Shelton. “When senior bureaucrats and politicians deny basic biology, women lose.”
 
“Family First will end this madness. We will legislate to protect girls and women from dangerous gender ideology in prisons and restore biological reality to law.”

The Victorian Greens have said they’re proud to confirm they will support the Statewide Treaty Bill without amendment as it makes its way through Parliament in the coming weeks.

The four Greens votes in the Legislative Council will ensure the historic bill will pass.

However, the Greens say the Liberals have sunk to a new low following reports overnight the Opposition will scrap any Treaty laws within 100 days of being elected.

With new polling suggesting the Opposition is on track for a fourth consecutive state election loss, it’s clear they’re continuing to dig their own hole on the wrong side of history.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP: 

“This is a historic moment where every Victorian has been invited to walk with First Nations people on this incredible journey – to share in and celebrate the oldest living cultures in the world, and to create a better future together.

“With the Greens votes, this Treaty legislation will pass.

“First Nations people are experts for their own communities, and Treaty is about respecting and embracing that truth.

“It’s deeply disrespectful that the Liberals have turned their backs on this history-making moment and on Aboriginal Victorians who have been working for years on Treaty. 

“To use this historic and proud moment to sow division is a new low, even for the Liberals. The Liberals have been a hopeless opposition, and the fact that their only plan for Victoria is to drag us backwards shows just how unfit for government they are.

“It’s a sad shame the Liberals couldn’t find it within themselves to back what First Nations people have been calling for – they’re just digging their own hole on the wrong side of history.” 

The Victorian Greens have said Labor’s decision to reject the key recommendations from an inquiry into cannabis is ‘spineless’, and will continue impacting marginalised communities.

Earlier this year, a parliamentary inquiry into a private member’s bill that would have decriminalised the personal use of cannabis released its final report.

The inquiry recommended adopting an approach to decriminalising cannabis in line with the bill, while drawing on the successful experience of the ACT, where cannabis has been decriminalised for personal recreational use since 2020.

In their response to that report today, Labor rejected this recommendation.

Given minor cannabis offences are disproportionately enforced against people experiencing poverty, structural oppression, and over-policing, Labor’s decision to treat recreational cannabis use as a crime will continue to cause real harm to thousands of Victorians every year.

Victorian Greens drug harm reduction spokesperson, Aiv Puglielli MLC:

“This is a spineless decision from a government that wants to pick and choose who benefits from drug harm reduction.

“The Premier herself has admitted to using cannabis, and yet would punish other Victorians for doing the same. This Labor Government decision reeks of privilege.

“The reality is people use cannabis. Rejecting what the experts are calling for isn’t just kicking this can down the road, it will cause real and profound harm to thousands of Victorians.”

The Northern Territory Chief Minister is manufacturing a culture war distraction while presiding over a correctional system in crisis. 

Women prisoners in Alice Springs are being held in dangerous, overcrowded conditions without adequate facilities, legal privacy, or safety from male inmates. Instead of dealing with the problem they created, a prison system in overcrowded crisis, the NT government has chosen to target one of the most marginalised groups in our community and attack trans women by putting them in crowded men’s prisons.

The Chief Minister told the media “if you’re born a bloke, you go into a men’s prison.” She also said “…we want to make it really clear that if you are a man and you’re fundamentally equipped as a man, if I could put it that way, then you belong in a men’s prison.”

Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said: 

“Aboriginal women are being imprisoned at unprecedented rates and held in sweltering, overcrowded conditions without any rehabilitation services. That’s the national crisis and it’s not the gender identity of inmates.

“This is just more bigoted scapegoating from the NT Government while their prison system fails women they have put in jail every single day.

“This dangerous culture war being perpetrated by the NT Government is enabled by the Federal Government who funds 71% of the NT prison system and is therefore directly implicated in this dangerous policy. 

“It’s time to ensure Commonwealth funding comes with the requirement to uphold the human rights and dignity of people in prisons, not just give a blank cheque for the excesses of the NT Government.”

Greens Senator and LGBTIQA+ spokesperson Nick McKim said:

“Putting trans women in a men’s prison is a shocking abuse of their human rights.”

“Trans women are women and trans rights are human rights.”

“Trans people need love and support, not to be thrown into danger to pander to far-right culture warriors.”

Greens Member for Nightcliff, Kat McNamara MLA said:

“The Chief Minister is confecting culture wars to distract from the prison crisis unfolding under her rule.”

“The way the Chief Minister is speaking about trans people is uneducated, offensive and dangerous.”

“Trans women experience double the rate of sexual violence from men than the rest of the population. We must ensure their safety in prison.”

“The CLP government is pouring salt on the wounds of the queer community this week. In the same week they are weakening protections in our anti-discrimination laws, they’re stripping away an essential protection for trans women in the NT.”

“As one the few openly queer members of the Legislative Assembly, I am devastated for our LGBTQIA+ community this week.” 

The Greens welcome the ceasefire and exchange of Israeli and Palestinian hostages and hope that these are concrete steps towards peace with justice. 

After two years of genocide and bloodshed, the international community must do all it can to ensure peace. The cessation of bombing and exchange of hostages is a move towards this. However, peace will only be enduring if there is justice, an end to the apartheid system and self-determination. 

Senator David Shoebridge, the Greens spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, said:  “Any moves to end the genocide in Gaza are welcome and now there is cautious optimism for the first time in years. 

“This short moment of relief cannot hide the global responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and the wholesale destruction of Gaza. 

“This week’s ceasefire and today’s return of hostages show that at any stage in the last two years, peace was possible, but it required the United States and those that follow its lead, including Australia, to force Israel to the table.

“A genocide on this scale took global co-operation from international arms manufacturers together with diplomatic cover for Israel’s government and arms industry. Australia was a player in all of this, which is a permanent stain on the Albanese government’s record.

“Millions of Australians, and billions around the world, have now had a brutal first-hand lesson in how a US-dominated world works, whether it is their government’s involvement in weapons platforms like the F-35 fighter jet, or empty rhetoric about an ‘international rules-based order.’

“The foreign policy of the two major parties has lost legitimacy, it has made the world a less safe and less fair place. There must be a new course, one independent from a US-led foreign policy that saw such a devastating scale of bloodshed.

“We owe the Palestinian survivors of this unspeakable genocide truth, compassion and justice and that will require a fresh global commitment to a Free Palestine and the urgent enforcement of the Genocide Convention.

“Until there is a just and lasting peace across Israel and Palestine, meaning an end to the genocide, dismantling of the apartheid system and respect for self-determination, all countries are still obligated to act.”

The Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) Annual Cyber Threat Report for 2024-25 highlights the persistent threat of malicious cyber activity to the nation, underscoring the urgency of action by all Australians and Australian businesses to raise the nation’s cyber defences.

This year’s report illustrates how cyber criminals continue to impact many Australians, leveraging new technologies and techniques to expand their destructive attacks and cause widespread financial harm.  

It also details how state cyber actors continue to target business and critical infrastructure, as well as all levels of Australian government, in an attempt to conduct espionage, steal sensitive data or posture for disruptive attacks. These findings make it critical that all Australian businesses develop robust business continuity plans for service disruptions caused by a cyber incident. 

Key findings from the report include:

• ASD answered over 42,500 calls to the Australian Cyber Security Hotline, equating to around 116 calls per day.
• ASD responded to more than 1,200 cyber security incidents, an 11% increase from 2023-24.
• ASD received over 84,700 cybercrime reports, an average of one report every 6 minutes.
• The average self-reported cost of cybercrime per report for small business rose by 14 per cent to $56,600, while the cost to individuals rose 8% to $33,000.

The report highlights the importance of government and industry partnerships in combatting cyber threats through intelligence sharing, combining insights and capabilities to block and counter these threats. These partnerships enable us to identify emerging threats and help defend Australian organisations in advance of cyber attacks. Increased cyber security awareness is leading to greater collaboration across government and industry, as well as reporting of cyber incidents.

ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program grew to over 133,000 partners and the Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing network now shares millions of indicators of compromise with hundreds of Australian partners. All Australian businesses and organisations are encouraged to join ASD’s Partnership Program at cyber.gov.au.    

The Australian Government is working to prevent cybercriminals from targeting the nation through its investment in Project REDPSPICE, which has already doubled ASD’s capacity to assist consenting private entities to uplift critical networks and counter malicious cyber activity.  

The 2024-25 Annual Cyber Threat Report is available here

the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

“ASD’s Annual Cyber Threat Report sharply illustrates that the nation faces an increasingly challenging threat landscape where cyber-enabled espionage and crime are not a hypothetical risk, but a real and increasing danger to the essential services we all rely on.

“The report makes clear that malicious actors have been working unseen to steal data and demand ransom payments from Australian victims, or to target our most critical networks for disruptive attacks.

“ASD’s annual assessment again shows the urgency of industry and government working collaboratively to raise our collective cyber defences and protect the digital arteries so essential to the nation and our economy.”

the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security, the Hon Tony Burke MP:

“The Signals Directorate protects Australians every day.”

“Our government is working hard to strengthen our cyber defences, but there are simple, effective steps that every Australian can take to keep themselves and their families safe online.

“Always install the latest software updates, use unique passphrases, enable multifactor authentication wherever it’s available, and if you receive an unexpected cold call, hang up and call back through the official line.

“Most cyber incidents are preventable, and basic defensive measures make a huge difference. Working together, we can keep our community safe online.”