Dutton says Jewish people will ‘prevail over ordeals’ in 7 October statementThe opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has released a statement to mark one year since the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel.He said the last 12 months constitute “one of the most difficult periods for Jewish Australians in our nation’s history” and today is about respecting the memories of the 1,200 killed, and praying for the hostages.
Israel has every right to defend its territory and its people from existential threats. The Coalition stands with our ally Israel – rather than treating her like an adversary.
We support Australians of Jewish faith – because you are cherished Australian citizens. That same spirit will see the Jewish people today – in Israel, in Australia, and around the world – prevail over present ordeals. The enemies of Israel and the peddlars of Jewish hate will never win.
ShareUpdated at 01.19 CESTKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureAlex Ryvchin from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry has been speaking to the media from one of the 7 October anniversary events taking place today.He said the organisation has reported more than 1,800 incidents of antisemitism over the past year – an increase of more than 300% on the previous year.
It is incumbent upon all Australians to fight this hatred, it cannot be on the Jewish community alone standing up to this. This is a national problem which requires a national solution.
ShareUpdated at 01.17 CESTAdam Bandt releases statement on eve of October 7 attacksThe leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt, has also released a statement to mark the 7 October anniversary. He said the 7 October attacks, the “killing and traumatising of civilians” and the taking of hostages were “appalling”.
The stories from that day are truly horrific and deserve nothing less than our most full condemnation as a community … Among those whose lives were taken were older people in their homes, young people enjoying music festivals and children who knew little of the history of a conflict that had far predated them.
He reiterated calls for the unconditional release of hostages, “just as we call for the release of the many thousands of Palestinians held as political prisoners in Israeli prisons.”Turning to Israel’s retaliation in Gaza, Bandt said that more than 40,000 have been killed, “entire communities” reduced to rubble and millions displaced.He said that Israel’s “continued violation of international law in the West Bank” has led to the “largest levels of forced relocations and illegal settlements in the country’s history”, and that in Lebanon, a “relentless campaign of bombardment” is occurring with “no regard for civilians”.
Australia is not just a bystander in this conflict. By refusing to support UN resolutions on Palestinian statehood, refusing to support South Africa’s International Court of Justice case on the genocide in Gaza, refusing to sanction the extremist Netanyahu government, by continuing to import Israeli weapons used on Palestinians and to export weapons parts including for the F35 fighter jet to be used by the Israeli military, Australia is complicit in this appalling conflict.
Greens leader Adam Bandt. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShareUpdated at 01.20 CESTTony Abbott opposes calls for ceasefire in statement claiming ‘Islamism is coming for all of us’The former prime minister Tony Abbott has released a statement on the 7 October anniversary, opposing calls for a ceasefire and declaring that “too many people in Australia are on the wrong side of this fight between good and evil”.In the statement published to X, Abbott argued that “too many leaders have double standards when it comes to Israel” and that “Islamism is potentially coming for all of us”:
Since October 7, while Western leaders have conceded Israel’s right to self-defence, they’ve almost always urged that it not be exercised. There’ve been constant demands for ‘ceasefires’ and for ‘de-escalation’ which could only benefit terrorist groups.
Abbott implied that Israel should attack Iranian nuclear facilities, arguing that these are “precursors to nuclear weapons” and that “the world would be much better off if the Iranian nuclear programme were terminated”.The former PM said the “well-being of mankind” is “threatened by a new axis of dictatorships united only by their hatred of the West”, and wrote:
Israel, indeed, has shown the rest of us how to fight and how to win.
On 7 October, Hamas attacked Israel and 1,450 people were killed or kidnapped. Shortly after, Israel began a retaliation campaign in Gaza that has resulted in at least 41,000 people – mostly civilians and many children – being killed.Former prime minister Tony Abbott. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAPShareUpdated at 01.22 CESTFarmers bolster biosecurity in face of deadly bird fluVictorian farmers are preparing for the potential arrival of a new strain of deadly bird flu, AAP reports, which has the power to devastate the state’s poultry industry.More than 1 million birds have been destroyed due to an H7N3 outbreak at seven Victorian poultry and duck farms this year, but the Victorian Farmers Federation says farmers are now preparing for the potential arrival of the H5N1 strain.The deadliest strain of the flu, H5N1 – also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza – primarily affects animals – but of 900 human infections across the globe, more than half were fatal, according to the World Health Organisation. It has also led to an unprecedented number of deaths in wild birds and poultry across the globe.The current H7N3 outbreak is mainly concentrated in the Golden Plains region, in the state’s north-east, that produces a quarter of Victoria’s eggs.A warning sign about an avian influenza outbreak affecting poultry in Meredith, Victoria earlier this year. Photograph: Supplied By Department Of Energy/PR IMAGEThe Victorian Farmers Federation’s vice-president, Danyel Cucinotta, said additional urgent action was needed to bolster biosecurity measures to protect the state’s poultry farmers from the new strain.It’s believed the H5N1 virus will enter Australia through wild birds. No cases of H5N1 avian influenza have yet been detected in Australian animals but there are concerns it could cause significant damage to native wildlife and poultry.ShareUpdated at 00.44 CESTHere’s a look at the national weather forecast across Australia’s capital cities, from the Bureau of Meteorology:ShareCalls for NSW to scrap approvals system for protests and legislate human rights actCircling back to news that the NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, has suggested Victoria should consider a permit system for protests similar to those in NSW:Our own Catie McLeod has written an explainer, speaking to a legal expert who says protest organisers in NSW would be less likely to end up fighting police in court for permission to hold rallies if the state had a charter of human rights instead of its “undemocratic” approvals system.This came as organisers of Sydney’s weekly pro-Palestine rallies were in the supreme court on Thursday fighting NSW police’s attempt to stop them from holding a protest yesterday, and another event scheduled for tonight.Thursday’s court action – not the first time protest organisers have ended up in a last-minute standoff with police – prompted renewed calls for the NSW government to scrap the current approvals system and legislate a human rights act.You can read the full piece below:ShareUpdated at 00.15 CESTAmbassador to Lebanon shares photos of assisted departure flightAustralia’s ambassador to Lebanon, Andrew Barnes, has shared some photos from one of the assisted departure flights out of Lebanon. He wrote in a post to X:
It was wonderful to be able to give a young [Australian] her first passport (& a koala!) at Beirut airport so she could depart on one of our assisted departure flights.
A big thanks to all the [Lebanese] staff at the airport for assisting us in getting nearly 900 [Australians] back home. More to come!
It was wonderful to be able to give a young 🇦🇺 her first passport (& a koala!) at Beirut airport so she could depart on one of our assisted departure flights ✈️. A big thanks to all the 🇱🇧 staff at the airport for assisting us in getting nearly 900🇦🇺 back home. More to come! pic.twitter.com/ikg04EEJky— Andrew Barnes 🇦🇺🇱🇧 (@SafirAustralia) October 6, 2024ShareIndependent politicians reflect on October 7 attacksIndependent politicians have also been sharing statements to mark 7 October.Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps said her thoughts were with all those impacted, acknowledging “the anguish of those whose loved ones remain as hostages.”
Sending love, healing and hope for a better future for all.
Curtin MP Kate Chaney said that one year on, “it seems like a peaceful solution is further away than ever”:
Today, I am thinking of the victims of the terrorist attack in Israel and the hostages who are still not home. I am thinking of the many Palestinians who have been injured, killed or displaced following the attack. I am thinking of those now impacted as the conflict broadens.
The independent senator for the ACT, David Pocock, said he continues to join with the government in calling for the immediate release of all remaining hostages – and that “this is a day to commemorate those lives”:
Without diminishing their grief, I also recognise the pain, suffering and mourning of Palestinians. In the year since Hamas’ terrorist attack, the IDF has killed over 40,000 people in Gaza, including women, children, aid workers and journalists. Their attacks have caused one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of our generation and it must end.
ShareUpdated at 00.06 CESTDutton says Jewish people will ‘prevail over ordeals’ in 7 October statementThe opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has released a statement to mark one year since the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel.He said the last 12 months constitute “one of the most difficult periods for Jewish Australians in our nation’s history” and today is about respecting the memories of the 1,200 killed, and praying for the hostages.
Israel has every right to defend its territory and its people from existential threats. The Coalition stands with our ally Israel – rather than treating her like an adversary.
We support Australians of Jewish faith – because you are cherished Australian citizens. That same spirit will see the Jewish people today – in Israel, in Australia, and around the world – prevail over present ordeals. The enemies of Israel and the peddlars of Jewish hate will never win.
ShareUpdated at 01.19 CESTKaty Perry reportedly paid $1.4m AUD for AFL grand final performance3AW Radio’s “rumour file” segment has heard that US pop star Katy Perry was paid $1.4m AUD for her AFL grand final performance – rather than the widely reported $5m figure.As Katie Cunningham reports, Perry fought to get her new album on the setlist for the performance. Woman’s World, her first single in three years, failed to make any significant impact on the charts and was widely derided as a years-too-late attempt at cashing in on girlboss feminism (the Guardian review gave it one star).The new album that followed, 143, earned the dubious distinction of becoming the worst-rated album on review aggregator Metacritic for almost 15 years.Of the nine tracks Perry performed during her pre-game show at Melbourne’s MCG, just two came from the new album – and neither was Woman’s World.Perry is due to tour Australia next year, and has so far sold out three concerts in Adelaide. She is visiting the city four times, compared with two concerts each for Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and three for Melbourne.ShareUpdated at 23.52 CEST