Australian news and politics recap: Chinese jet targets RAAF plane, NSW anti-Semitic video, Ukraine peace hope

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the NSW nurses whose vile anti-Semitic threats have gone viral cannot be deported.

“If they’re Australian citizens it’s impossible to (deport them),” he said on Ben Fordham Live.

“If you want to take citizenship or strip citizenship, there are constitutional constraints.

“It’s a worry, it’s an outrage and I tell you what, we’ve got big problems in this country when somebody like that can become an Australian citizen so there needs to be a proper process in place to understand how this individual became an Australian citizen and … make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Mr Dutton said there is an ability to revoke citizenship if the applicant made a false declaration.

“There is an ability in that circumstance (to revoke citizenship),” he said.

“There is an ability to revoke if someone has committed a terrorist act but even that is limited.”

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has become emotional describing the moment he addressed staff at Bankstown Hospital in Sydney after two of their colleagues were stood down for making death threats against Jewish patients.

Speaking on 2GB, Mr Park said he was “shattered” by the video and the fact the NSW Health system is garnering worldwide attention for the most atrocious anti-Semitic threats.

“I never thought I would see this in Australia,” Mr Park said.

“This has done seismic damage to our system and our trust from the Jewish community.

“I spoke to the staff at Bankstown Hospital and they can’t believe that two other staff members could make these vile and disgusting threats.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the anti-Semitic rant of two NSW nurses “would not have been the first rant in that workplace”.

“There would have been other discussions in the meal room or with colleagues,” he said during an interview with Ben Fordham on 2GB this morning.

“Has anybody reported some of these rants that would have been part of the conversation, particularly over the course of the last 15 months since October 7, 2023.

“What’s happened within the NSW Health system that these people haven’t been reported before now? Because this is not the first time they would’ve carried on like that.”

Ms Marshall went on to say that such views had “no place” in “providing care to the community”.

“One of our district’s greatest strengths is our diverse community and staff,” she said.

“I acknowledge our communities have differing perspectives, but personal views have no place in providing care to the community.

“There is simply no place in NSW Health for the views expressed and behaviour demonstrated today.”

South Western Sydney Local Health District CEO Sonia Marshall sent an email to staff yesterday saying she is “utterly devastated” over the anti-Semitic video.

“I know the team at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, who I met with earlier today is equally devastated, as is our entire executive leadership, and as I know many of you are,” she said.

“The comments made and views expressed were completely unacceptable.

“They do not reflect the views of Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, our district or NSW Health.”

Independent teal MP Zali Steggall has confronted Special Minister of State Don Farrell when the pair crossed paths in a Parliament House corridor.

Steggall was fired up about donations reform and accused Farrell of shutting independents out of negotiations on how much money they can spend.

“Why won’t you send the bill to (an) inquiry to be assessed that it is actually democratic?” Steggall asked, according to the SMH.

In response, Farrell said the government had been engaged in the process for three years.

“Ordinary Australians can participate in the process, and then you don’t have to be an acolyte of a millionaire or a billionaire to win seats in the Australian parliament”.

Steggal claimed: “The only people that will be able to participate in elections will be union members.”

But Farrell dismissed this as “completely untrue”.

“It’s hugely important that the public has trust in healthcare professionals across our public health system,” Mr Minns has told reporters.

“We cannot have examples of naked racism from public servants exhibited on social media or anywhere.”

Mr Minns said the review into the video where two Bankstown nurses brag about killing Israelis will be “comprehensive”.

“Don’t forget we’ve got the Health Care Complaints Commission as well. Their job is to look at these particular instances. We’ll task them with that job. If they need extra resources, we’ll put resources into it as well.

Asked whether the nurses anti-Semitic video will strengthen the case for hate speech laws, the NSW Premier said he believed it would be captured under the existing laws.

“However, given the rolling nature of anti-Semitic hate crimes in Sydney over the last three, four months, even beyond that, but particularly hot period during the summer period, we cannot send anything other than an unambiguous message against hate crimes and anti-Semitism or racism in general in Sydney.

“I don’t want this febrile atmosphere, I don’t want to have asituation where people are living onedge but I do recognise that civic leaders, political leaders, need to send clear messages and that’s what we’re doing with our legislation.

“That’s what we’re doing with the bills putting through Parliament.”

Chris Minns has been speaking with reporters about the anti-Semitic threats made in a viral video by two Bankstown nurses, saying he doesn’t believe those views are entrenched in the health system.

“It’s my strong belief that this is an aberration.

“I can’t promise that every single healthcare worker doesn’t harbour the same hate or the same views but what I can say is that the evidence is that it’s a small, small fraction and it’s my job to build that public confidence (in) the public health system so if you got a pain, if you got a concern, there’s a warning sign that blinks this afternoon, that you’ve got the confidence to go to an emergency department and know you’ll get world-class treatment.”

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have committed to visiting each other after a long phone call that the US President has described as “very productive”.

Subjects discussed included the Ukraine war, the Middle East, energy and artificial intelligence, ”the power of the dollar and variuous other subjects”.

Here’s what he had to say about tghe phone call in a post to his Truth Social platform.