Australian news and politics live: Albanese says Israel’s aid blockade of Gaza is ‘completely unacceptable’

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce says he’s likely not in line for a Shadow Cabinet position if a new Coalition agreement is signed and denied backgrounding against leader David Littleproud.

After a messy week for the National party following a start-stop split of the Coalition, Mr Joyce hadn’t hid his criticism of Mr Littleproud’s judgement to walk away from the partnership before returning to the table with new Liberal leader Sussan Ley.

Speaking to Sky News on Monday, Mr Joyce admitted he had been in talks with Ms Ley to try to get the Coalition back together last week but ruled out a tilt to roll Mr Littleproud.

He denied there was a joint-ticket for leadership with Michael McCormack to take over after the chaos brought to the party by Mr Littleproud.

“I’m not going for leadership. No one has rung me up for numbers,” he said.

“I’ll support the leader as best I can.

“I don’t think I’m going to be on the front bench. It’s not whether I want to (or not), it’s my choice.

“I’ve got more to give and I’m doing that all the time.”

He also spoke about his thoughts on a net zero target, saying he didn’t support that position and described it as a disaster for everyone.

Thousands of people remain isolated by a massive rain and flooding event that destroyed hundreds of homes and damaged many others, as authorities try to clear the way so communities can clean up.

An estimated 10,000 properties were hit by floods in the Hunter and mid-north coast regions of NSW after a month’s worth of rain fell in a matter of days.

About 12,000 residents across multiple towns were still stranded as of early Monday, and crews have carried out more than 770 rescues amid the flood crisis that has led to five deaths.

Rescuers have faced challenging conditions, including a two-hour paddle to reach two people and their working dogs who were stranded for three days on a remote farm near Kempsey.

Insurers have received more than 3500 claims so far, 80 per cent of which are personal property claims.

“There’s a big clean-up that has to happen, and I do know what that is like,” said NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin, who lives in Lismore which suffered devastating flooding in 2022.

​Read the full story here.​

Mr Albanese says Israel’s actions in Gaza are “completely unacceptable”, and that it is “outrageous” that the Israeli Government has blocked food and supplies from entering the enclave.

Israel has also intensified its air campaign in recent days, and announced its intention for a permanent occupation of the strip.

He said he had a “clear discussion” with Israel’s President in Rome just days ago that Australia finds the actions “completely unacceptable, and we find Israel’s excuses and explanations completely untenable and without credibility”.

“People are starving. The idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage. That is my clear position, one I have indicated clearly and directly to the Israeli Government, it’s one that we will continue to be part of,” he said.

He reiterated that his Government remains consistently and unequivocally opposed to the October 7 attacks, and that Hamas must have “no role” in the future of Gaza.

“But democratic states have a responsibility to behave in a way that is consistent with international law and with humanitarian concerns and the whole world is concerned about what has occurred with the blockade,” he said.

The PM has repeatedly said, including today, that climate change is making natural disasters worse. How then, he’s asked, can his Government justify green-lighting the North West gas shelf expansion.

Mr Albanese says there’s no renewables without firming capacity.

“You don’t change a transition through warm thoughts. You do it through a concrete proposal which is the expansion of renewables, up to 82 per cent of the grid. But the way that occurs is it needs firming capacity to occur,” he said.

“It is net zero, not zero ... You cannot have a shift to renewables without having a confidence because you will lose community support if you walk into this room and flick on the switch and the lights don’t go on.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the 70 ADF personnel headed to the flood zone will be engaged in “recovery and cleanup, but specifically route clearance”.

“They will have engineering capability … We stand ready to do more, in terms of more people, if in fact that request comes through and there is a potential for that going forward over the next few days,” he said.

As for whether it’s sustainable for the ADF to keep sending personnel to emergency management cleanup, Mr Marles says there is ongoing policy work around how defence can be “the last port of call”, as called for by the Defence Strategic Review.

“In a way, that is being demonstrated in this particular incident. There are a couple of thousands volunteer workers which are currently on the ground right now,” he said.

“That is happening, and I think that process is going well in terms of managing defence’s ongoing resources but I reiterate, whenever a call is made, defence answers that call and will provide all the assistance which is necessary.

“When there is a crisis and that call is made for defence, defence will always be there.”

Mr Albanese says the economic cost of floods will be “substantial”, but “what we don’t do is go through with a calculator”.

“What we do is say, ‘if it’s needed, we will support you’. Simple as that,” he said.

The PM has announced that from tomorrow there will be 70 ADF personnel on the ground helping with recovery and clean-up.

That’s in addition to the Disaster Recovery Allowance which is also now activated, the personal hardship payments, the community recovery support fund, and concessional rate loans for primary producers and small businesses.

“We will continue to monitor what is necessary, and we will ensure that the Government does have your back if you’re in these affected communities,” he said.

Mr Albanese said he and Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain will travel to the flood-impact zone later today and tomorrow, where the pair will see the damage and impact first hand.

While the flood waters are receding, the PM again reminded residents “if it’s flooded, forget it”.

“Do not take risks. There are still risks out there,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has this morning visited the National Situation Room, where he’s received an update on the significant flooding event in the mid-north NSW coast.

He says “the science told us that there would be more frequent events and that they would be more intense. That is what we are seeing playing out”.

Mr Albanese said this event had had a devastating impact on communities, a devastating human impact with five lives lost, as well as significant environmental and economic impacts as well.

He again thanked everyone from the NEMA and other agency staff to the volunteers “who are making an incredible difference.

“I always think at the worst of times, we do see the best of the Australian character, and we have certainly seen that in recent days,” he said.

Large and dangerous blades will be removed from shop shelves in days in an Australian-first ban, sparked by a violent brawl forcing the lockdown of a busy shopping centre.

Shoppers were left terrified by a violent melee between rival gang members armed with machetes at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s north.

Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been charged while another man, 20, was rushed to hospital following the altercation on Sunday afternoon.

Watch footage of a hero shopper during the machete attack

On Monday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced the laws, which bans the sale of machetes across Victoria, will take effect from noon on May 28.

“In Victoria, community safety comes first. We must never let places we meet become places we fear,” Ms Allan told reporters.

“I hate these knives, and I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives.”“

The interim sale ban will cover machetes, which are broadly described as a cutting edge knife with a blade of more than 20 centimetres.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr has spoken to Federal Minister Tanya Plibersek about the drought crisis in Victoria and South Australia and the health effects on farmers in the region.

“I’m sure the Prime Minister will be working very closely with farmers and with our Agriculture Minister, Julie Collins,” Ms Plibersek said.

“Julie Collins has been to Victoria. She’s going to South Australia this week. I understand why farmers want that attention.

“I was in South Australia a few weeks ago and farmers there were telling me this is worse for them than the millennium drought.

“This is an incredibly serious drought that’s lasted several years now.

“We do have a number of supports available. We’ve got low-interest loans available, other payments, financial counselling and other supports available.

“We’ll work very closely with the State Governments. They obviously take a lead at a time like this, and I know, as I said, Julie Collins will be in South Australia this week.”