Australians are grieving for those killed on both sides of Israel-Hamas war, Adam Bandt tells protesters
About 15,000 people have attended a rally supporting Palestine in Melbourne, with the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, telling the crowd they were mourning for those who had died on both sides of the bloody conflict.
Sunday’s protest was one of several held across the country at the weekend. Victoria police said that there were “no major incidents of note”.
Continue reading...Preschoolers with severe burns airlifted to hospital in Melbourne, Ambulance Victoria says
Two children have died and two others are in a critical condition after a shed fire in Geelong in south-west Victoria.
Two children died at the scene in Corio on Sunday morning while the other two preschoolers were flown to hospital. All four children are yet to be formally identified.
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The Albanese government says it has reached an agreement with China on tariffs placed on Australian wine.
In a statement on Sunday, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese welcomed the progress ahead of his meeting with China’s president, Xi Jinping, in early November, saying the government is “confident of a successful outcome”.
The agreement means China will undertake an expedited five-month review of the duties it places on Australian wine producers. Australia and China have paused the World Trade Organization dispute until the review is finished.
Australia will resume the WTO dispute if the duties aren’t dropped after the review period.
Albanese will visit Beijing between 4 and 7 November to meet Xi and the premier, Li Qiang, and attend the China International Import Expo.
The leaders are expected to discuss economic links, climate change and links between their people.
Albanese said:
I look forward to visiting China, an important step towards ensuring a stable and productive relationship … I welcome the progress we have made to return Australian products, including Australian wine, to the Chinese market. Strong trade benefits both countries.
Continue reading...Countries agree to halt World Trade Organization dispute pending outcome of China’s ‘expedited review’ of duties imposed on Australian wine in 2020
China has agreed to review the tariffs it places on Australian wine producers after a breakthrough in negotiations before Anthony Albanese’s trip to Beijing next month.
Albanese said on Sunday the two countries had agreed to suspend their long-running World Trade Organization dispute while Beijing undertakes an “expedited review” of duties, which is expected to take five months.
Continue reading...Prime minister Anthony Albanese confirms his death on Saturday
Former governor general and one-time Labor Party leader Bill Hayden has died at the age of 90.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday, paying tribute to “a legend of our labour movement” and that a state funeral will be held to honour his life.
Continue reading...Street photographer known for ‘ordinary people’ portraits snaps Australian cricketer and partner without realising ‘he’s photographing royalty’
Australian cricket all-rounder Marcus Stoinis is causing a stir on and off the field after an impromptu Instagram video, shot recently on a New York street, went viral.
Stoinis helped Australia thrash Pakistan in the World Cup on Friday night. In a crucial match for Australia’s finals hopes in the international one day series, Stoinis helped Australia thump Pakistan and secure a 62-run win in Bengaluru.
Continue reading...Protesters marched through the Sydney CBD on Saturday after police green-lit the event, with similar rallies held in Perth, Hobart and Brisbane
Pro-Palestine protesters declared they were standing on the right side of history, marching for justice and humanity, as they turned out in their thousands at rallies across Australia on Saturday.
Thousands marched through the Sydney CBD on Saturday after police green-lit the event, with rallies also held in Perth, Hobart and Brisbane as more information emerges from conflict-stricken Gaza.
Continue reading...After the voice referendum, John Pesutto appears non-committal on treaty – but it’s unclear whether an about-face will be well-received in the ‘Massachusetts of Australia’
It was not even 18 months ago that the Victorian Coalition was seeking to dispel the “myth” that only the Labor party supported a treaty with the state’s First Nations people.
“This side of the house, both the Liberal and the National parties, are committed to working with the Indigenous community on treaty,” the Nationals leader, Peter Walsh, told parliament last year when he spoke in support of a bill establishing a Treaty Authority.
Continue reading...Community says company has not been in contact about plans for drilling operation ‘threatening our environment and our cultural way of life’
Tiwi people have expressed anger at a Santos announcement that the company plans to commence laying one of the pipelines for its Barossa offshore gas project, which they say threatens burial grounds and sacred sites.
In its quarterly report, the fossil fuel company said it had notified Australia’s offshore petroleum regulator Nopsema that it had complied with a direction issued earlier this year to survey for underwater cultural heritage sites.
Continue reading...Some put efforts into humanitarian work while others believe political pressure can limit loss of life
As Arab and Jewish communities in Australia watch Israel prepare to embark on a ground offensive in Gaza they are both fearful and determined to help in any way they can.
For some, the response is humanitarian, supporting volunteer efforts in the Middle East or helping to organise and fund repatriation flights.
Continue reading...Judge denies Alexander Csergo bail during hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre on Friday
A Sydney businessman alleged to have been an agent for Chinese state intelligence has told a court there are “numerous exaggerations” in the police version of evidence presented against him.
Alexander Csergo, charged with one count of reckless foreign interference, is alleged to have swapped reports on business and politics with two Chinese handlers, known to him only by the anglicised names “Ken” and “Evelyn”, in exchange for envelopes of cash.
Continue reading...Co-chair of truth and treaty group, Aaron Fa’Aoso, says he remains confident after meeting government representatives on Friday
The co-chair of Queensland’s interim truth and treaty body, Aaron Fa’Aoso, says the state government has given assurances that its treaty process will proceed, after the opposition Liberal National party withdrew its support.
Fa’Aoso, a descendant of the Saibai region in the Torres Strait, said board members of the truth and treaty body met government representatives on Friday.
Continue reading...Financial regulator finds Peter John Collins is ‘not a fit and proper person to provide financial services’
Australia’s financial watchdog has issued an eight-year ban to a former PwC partner at the heart of a confidentiality scandal that triggered a reputation crisis at the firm and a costly sell-off.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has been investigating the conduct of Peter John Collins, of Sandringham in Victoria, who has been accused of sharing confidential government information about multinational tax avoidance with colleagues.
Continue reading...Government also presses for removal of imposts on wine ahead of Anthony Albanese’s visit to Beijing next month
Australia is moving to repair ties with China ahead of Anthony Albanese’s trip to Beijing, ruling out cancelling a Chinese company’s lease over the strategically important Port of Darwin.
The move, which is likely to be welcomed by the Chinese government, comes as Australia also prepares to scrap tariffs on imports of Chinese wind towers, potentially defusing one of Beijing’s trade complaints.
Continue reading...Exclusive: Government fast-tracked applications of canoeist, wrestler and water polo player backed by AOC
The Australian government has fast-tracked the citizenship of three athletes from South Africa, Russia and the US, in an effort to boost the nation’s chances of winning gold medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
With the support of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), South African canoeist Pierre Van der Westhuyzen, Russian wrestler Georgii Okorokov and US water polo player Sam Slobodien, will receive citizenships ahead of the games after having their applications fast-tracked.
Continue reading...YouTube star Augusto Deoliveira – who also cancelled trips to the UK and Italy – stands by his tough approach to training canines
The controversial US-based dog trainer known as the Dog Daddy says he cancelled his planned visit to Australia after a backlash from animal rights activists and is now taking a break from global touring.
But YouTube star Augusto Deoliveira insisted he would not be abandoning his tough approach to training. He said his techniques have worked for thousands of fans who wanted to curtail aggressive behaviour in their dogs.
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Abbott suggests ‘scaling back’ on ‘separatism’ after no referendum vote
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has some ... opinions ... on what the defeat of the voice referendum means the country should do next. It’s fair to say they’re not uncontroversial.
Flying the Aboriginal flag co-equally (as if Australia is a country of two nations) and the routine acknowledgement of country by all speakers at official events (as if those whose ancestry here stretches beyond 1788 are more Australian than anyone else).
The Department of Justice wishes to express deepest sympathies to the boy’s family, friends and community for their tragic loss. The department is continuing its investigation into all the circumstances of the incident.
The death will be subject to a mandatory inquest and the department will fully co-operate with the coronial process.
Continue reading...Exclusive: With Indigenous leaders ‘shell-shocked’, sources say there are a ‘lot of conversations’ in the Minns government about next step
The New South Wales government will review part of its state treaty consultation plan, a key election promise, in the wake of the crushing federal referendum defeat on the voice to parliament.
The government isn’t confirming the appointment of three commissioners to oversee the process as planned – and previously outlined by the Aboriginal affairs and treaty minister, David Harris, in April. Sources say the consultation process and timeline will now be reviewed.
Continue reading...Endorsement of British American Tobacco by Climate Active was revoked after complaint was made, FoI documents show
The government has been forced to revoke carbon neutral certification given to a big tobacco company after the endorsement was found to be in breach of a World Health Organization treaty to which Australia is a signatory.
Freedom of information documents show a complaint was made by the managing director of the Carbon Reduction Institute, Rob Cawthorne, to the health department in August 2022 about British American Tobacco (BAT) receiving the certification from Climate Active.
Continue reading...Former military lawyer’s legal team warns public has made its ‘disapproval of the continued prosecution abundantly clear’
David McBride’s legal team has made a last-ditch request to the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, to intervene and end his prosecution, warning the public had made their “disapproval of the continued prosecution abundantly clear”.
McBride, a former military lawyer, is facing trial in the ACT courts next month for his alleged leaking of documents to the ABC, which were used to produce a series of articles exposing alleged war crimes by Australian troops.
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