Dutton has ‘turned his back’ on Palestinians, Ed Husic saysThe industry minister, Ed Husic, has accused Peter Dutton of having “turned his back” on those fleeing Gaza during an interview on Sky News on Sunday.Dutton has been urging the government to undertake a pause in the visa intake from the region until security vetting processes could be ensured, claiming terrorist sympathisers had been admitted to Australia.Husic accused the opposition leader of politicising the issue.
Peter Dutton was in [government] where he provided support for Syrians, for Afghans and for Ukrainians, and then all of a sudden, just shut the door in one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes we’re witnessing.
That speaks volumes about Peter Dutton, someone who is seeking to be an alternative, where he can turn his back on parents that are trying to save lives of their kids, all for the sake of him shoring up his political situation.
Department of Home Affairs figures showed 7,100 visas from Palestine had been rejected, and of the 2,922 that had been approved, 1,300 had arrived safely in Australia.Ed Husic in question time earlier this week. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPHusic’s comments come after the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, accused the opposition leader of deliberately stirring division with his views on Gaza.- AAPShareUpdated at 03.13 CESTKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureHoudini the elusive crocodile returns to outback Queensland townThe residents of Hughenden in Queensland’s outback have two questions:How did a freshwater crocodile come to be living in their local swimming spot – and when is it going to move on?“Everyone’s confused,” says Constance Holden, who works in the Great Western hotel, one of the town’s two pubs. “I didn’t fully believe it was there until I saw the photos.”The town, population 1,100, is more than 300km from the coast and its main river, the Flinders, is now dry. Its human-made recreational lake – now home to the croc – is not connected to any big waterways and the area has not flooded significantly this year.
There’s no way you’d usually see a croc here, especially in the lake. I have no idea how a croc would get there. I’ve heard some rumours about someone putting it there but I don’t know what to believe.
The animal was first spotted in the Hughenden recreational lake in June. It was believed the reptile could not have survived a cold snap the next month, with three below-zero nights. But a sighting last week, confirmed by the council, proved that theory wrong.For more on this story, read the full story by The Guardian’s Daisy Dumas:ShareUpdated at 05.10 CESTMan injured after boat struck by whale tail off Gold CoastA man has suffered serious injuries after being struck by a whale tail while in a tinny in waters near the border between Queensland and NSW.Jetski riders off the coast of Coolangatta called emergency services just before 9am on Sunday when a whale reportedly collided with the man in his boat.Queensland police say the man in his 40s didn’t know the whale was there until it appeared in front of him.He was knocked unconscious when he was struck by the whale’s tail, police say.The man was brought to shore by paramedics and taken to Gold Coast University hospital where he was treated for facial and spinal injuries.Queensland Ambulance Service says he is in a stable condition.A spokesperson from Queensland police said: “[We] urge all boaties to always wear life jackets, fortunately this man remained in his boat.”- AAPShareUpdated at 04.50 CESTFirefighters battle blaze at Melbourne fireworks factoryVictorian firefighters have responded to a fire at a fireworks factory in Dandenong early on Sunday morning.Emergency services were alerted to the blaze at 1.48am on Sunday morning with firefighting teams arriving within seven minutes.A 20m by 20m factory was engulfed in flame.Fire Rescue Victoria said crews initially worked on the fire from the outside over concerns that the building might collapse.A total of 15 appliances responded to the fire.The fire was bought under control at 3.22am with teams of firefighters working for several hours to fully extinguish the blaze and clear the building of smoke.The incident was being treated as suspicious and the scene was handed to Victoria police.ShareUpdated at 04.25 CESTKnife-wielding man arrested at western Sydney shopping centreA man is facing charges after allegedly brandishing a knife in alarming scenes at a busy Sydney shopping centre.Police arrested the man at Westfield Parramatta after he allegedly stole a number of items from stores on Saturday morning, allegedly arming himself with a knife and threatening a shopper.The shopper, a 36-year-old man, confronted the alleged attacker who then left the scene and the knife behind.Police say the 24-year-old man allegedly attempted to assault officers when they arrested him.The officers searched the man and seized 69 gift cards and a pair of earrings.He was taken to Parramatta police station where he was charged with shoplifting, goods in custody, use knife in public place – cause person to fear for safety, and intimidate police officer in execution of duty.He was refused bail and expected to front Parramatta local court on Sunday.- AAPShareUpdated at 04.07 CESTVolunteer firefighter dies after being struck by a police car in TasmaniaThe death of a volunteer firefighter struck by a police car on Flinders Island will have an impact on the “whole community”, a senior officer says.Tasmania police say the man was on foot when he was hit by the police vehicle driven by an on-duty officer on Saturday night.Emergency crews were called to the town of Lady Barron at 9pm.The police officer involved was not injured, but the Lackrana man, aged in his 60s died at the scene.Tasmania police assistant commissioner Adrian Bodnar said the incident would have a profound impact on the man’s family, emergency personnel involved, and the entire Flinders Island community.
This is a tragedy involving two people who worked together in a small community, and it will no doubt have an impact on everyone involved for some time to come.
A full Professional Standards investigation will take place to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash, and a report will be delivered to the coroner.- AAPShareUpdated at 04.02 CESTLabor announces cheap loans for energy efficient home upgradesThe Albanese government will offer cheap loans to homeowners and investors looking to make energy efficient upgrades as part of a $160m scheme announced on Sunday.This funding was committed to Westpac’s sustainable upgrades home loan scheme through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, with borrowers able to access loans with a 4.49% interest rate.The energy minister, Chris Bowen, said Australians could save $3,475 on a 10-year, $30,000 loan.
These competitive-rate loans will give customers the freedom to choose how to upgrade their homes and to make them more energy efficient and save on their bills.
The initiative forms part of a billion-dollar household energy upgrade fund, and will allow applications to take out low-interest loans to install solar arrays, batteries, EV chargers, double-glazed windows and insulation.ShareUpdated at 03.51 CESTShamikh Badra is one of many Palestinian Australians hurt by the Coalition’s recent push to impose a temporary blanket ban on granting visas to those escaping the deadly conflict in Gaza.The Sydneysider, who is undertaking his PhD, has been desperately trying to get his elderly mother out of Gaza City after Israeli tanks destroyed the family home last year.The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, escalated the opposition’s rhetoric against Palestinians fleeing Gaza this week, criticising the security checking process for visa applications and urging a temporary blanket pause.The comments have stirred furious debate over whether the approach is discriminatory, shortly after Asio’s director general, Mike Burgess, cautioned politicians “to be careful about their robust political debate”, warning it could “drive violence in our society”.Badra says Dutton and the opposition’s comments are “deeply troubling” and provoke a “strong reaction” in him.
He would not make such statements if, as an Australian citizen, he had family trapped in Gaza, suffering from a lack of medicine, water and food due to the ongoing conflict, and if his family had died under those dire circumstances.
For more on this story, read the full feature story by Sarah Basford-Canales:ShareMichael Sukkar accuses Labor of ‘cavalier attitude’ towards visa security checksThe opposition’s housing spokesperson, Michael Sukkar, is accusing the government of a “cavalier attitude” to the security vetting process.Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Sukkar has repeated the Coalition attack on the government saying “you’ve got to put the interests of Australians first”.
They think that there’s nothing wrong with bringing Hamas sympathisers and supporters potentially to this country.
You’ve got to put the interests of Australians first … and their interest is not supported by Hamas supporters and sympathisers being granted visas into this country.
– AAPShareUpdated at 03.05 CESTTourist visas granted to Palestinians in order ‘to get people out as quickly as you can’, Husic saysEd Husic has defended the government’s decision to grant tourist visas to those fleeing Gaza as they were able to process the visas faster.More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the military campaign carried out by Israel in the Gaza strip since the October 7 terrorist attack.
Refugee visas take longer, and given what’s happening right now and the dangers presented, the view was to try and get people out as quickly as you can.
We are trying to assist at some of the toughest points in time that people are facing.
The federal government has insisted the security vetting process for issuing visas is the same as when the Coalition was in office.- AAPShareUpdated at 02.46 CESTDutton has ‘turned his back’ on Palestinians, Ed Husic saysThe industry minister, Ed Husic, has accused Peter Dutton of having “turned his back” on those fleeing Gaza during an interview on Sky News on Sunday.Dutton has been urging the government to undertake a pause in the visa intake from the region until security vetting processes could be ensured, claiming terrorist sympathisers had been admitted to Australia.Husic accused the opposition leader of politicising the issue.
Peter Dutton was in [government] where he provided support for Syrians, for Afghans and for Ukrainians, and then all of a sudden, just shut the door in one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes we’re witnessing.
That speaks volumes about Peter Dutton, someone who is seeking to be an alternative, where he can turn his back on parents that are trying to save lives of their kids, all for the sake of him shoring up his political situation.
Department of Home Affairs figures showed 7,100 visas from Palestine had been rejected, and of the 2,922 that had been approved, 1,300 had arrived safely in Australia.Ed Husic in question time earlier this week. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPHusic’s comments come after the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, accused the opposition leader of deliberately stirring division with his views on Gaza.- AAPShareUpdated at 03.13 CESTDutton doubles down on refusing Gaza refugees in editorialOpposition leader Peter Dutton has published an opinion piece in News Corp papers, doubling down on his views that Australia should refuse to allow refugees from Gaza into the country.The editorial repeats attacks against the government over what the opposition claims is a failure to provide proper security checks for refugees arriving in Australia from Gaza.Dutton says “we need to be clear-eyed about Palestinians in Gaza” as “the problem” is that “we cannot tell who’s who, unless thorough background checks are done.”
Some Gazans are Hamas terrorists. Some will have been accomplices in holding hostages.
Some may not be violent, but support Hamas – a declared terrorist organisation – and its use of violence. Some may have no fondness for Hamas, but will be anti-Semitic.
And some Gazans will be people of good character, potentially able and willing to integrate into a democratic nation and subscribe to its values.
The editorial concludes by accusing Labor, the teal independents and the Greens of being “useful idiots” for Hamas over allegations that the Coalition’s position is “racist” and that they have demonstrated a “complete disregard for our national security”.The border crossings in Gaza are currently controlled by the Israeli Defense Forces and no one is being allowed in or out.For context, John Howard intervened to allow 4,000 Kosovar refugees to enter Australia during the war in Yugoslavia.ShareUpdated at 03.04 CESTThe final question is on the Labor government’s backdown on a blanket gambling advertising ban, that was bipartisan.
I’m not a wowser, I enjoy a flutter, but I will introduce gambling to my kids when I’m ready, not because we want to watch football. We have to look after free-to-air TV, they are under threat and we need to make sure we get the balance right. There is an opportunity for a bipartisan approach here to get this right, but the community is clearly telling us that we have to do something and do something soon.
ShareUpdated at 01.51 CESTLittleproud says Coalition would send ‘market signals’ to favour gas and nuclear investment over renewablesThe Nationals leader is now asked about renewable energy and whether or not the Coalition will seek to limit the setup of big projects.Littleproud, citing the Grattan Institute, says that “the low hanging fruit” of renewable energy projects have been “done” – these are projects located around existing transmission lines and other infrastructure. The Nationals leader says that to go beyond this will “destroy the very thing we’re trying to protect”, being the environment.
Obviously once you go beyond that, you are going onto greenfield sites, destroying the very thing we’re trying to protect, the actual natural environment, and also impacting many of the land holders with the transmission lines. While the land holders might get turbines and solar panels, they might get financial benefit, but those with transmission lines don’t.
Speers: Will you put a cap on those projects?
We will have a mix. To have an all-renewables approach puts all your energy eggs in one basket.
Littleproud was then asked about the potential for a cap on renewable energy investment, at a time when the Coalition wants to set up nuclear power plants.
If you put in baseload power and shift some of that coal-fired into nuclear and you increase gas … and that will be our solution to that transition, is gas – then you actually do limit the amount of increased renewables put in it.
The Nationals leader was pushed on whether there will be a cap.
Well, the market, as I said, you will be sending the market signals. That’s what governments do, they send the market signals by sending those messages about how we will have the energy grid.
And a third time:
Not necessarily a hardline cap, but by us putting in place nuclear plants that the Australian people will own, that’s going to … pure mathematics tell you that in fact what will happen is you will need less renewables, but we’ll need more gas.
Asked whether the Coalition wants to tell investors that the government wants less renewables:
We will be sending the actual mix of what we’re looking for and what we want to achieve, and that’s about making sure we have reliable, affordable power. Regional Australia’s future shouldn’t be one determined by born billionaires with teal members of parliament that have an ideology telling regional Australia’s future is to be littered with transmission lines, solar panels and wind turbines. Regional Australia wants a different future to that. We want to be part of the energy transition. Renewables is part of that, but so too is gas and so too will be nuclear.
ShareUpdated at 03.33 CEST