Australian news and politics live: Ley says Coalition would revoke Palestinian statehood recognition

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has just announced the Coalition would revoke Australia’s recognition of the state of Palestine if it won the next election, due in 2028.

Shadow cabinet resolved the position at a meeting on Tuesday morning, a day after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia would follow France, the UK and Canada in shifting its stance on the issue.

“The Coalition would have never made this call and we do not agree with it. A Coalition Government would only recognise a Palestinian state at the conclusion of a proper peace process,” Ms Ley said in a joint statement with shadow foreign minister Michaelia Cash.

“The reality is the conditions the Prime Minister himself claims to be necessary for recognition are not being met and are pushed further away by recognising a Palestinian state outside of a proper peace and two-state process.”

Anthony Albanese will visit South Australian communities smashed by a sprawling and unprecedented algal bloom following weeks of criticism that the Federal Government had been slow in its response to the unfolding crisis.

Confirmation of the trip comes just the day after Environment Minister Murray Watt apologised for the Government’s sluggish response, which could devastate coastal communities and businesses preparing the summer tourism season.

The toxic bloom has rapidly spread across several beaches on the state’s coastline, and while the algae is not harmful to people, it’s resulted in the death of rays, fish and marine life.

The Prime Minister shared the news on ABC radio on Tuesday, stating he would head to the state “next week” following discussions with state Premier Peter Malinauskas.

Read the full story here.

Former Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described the Albanese Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state as a “hollow gesture” and “betrayal” of Jewish Australians.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr Morrison said without prerequisites in place, the call “abandons the longstanding bipartisan policy” of a two-State solution.

“A Palestinian state, without any of the necessary prerequisites in place, will neither address the urgent priority to deliver much needed aid to Gaza nor deliver a viable two state solution that affords peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis,” Mr Morrison said.

“It will prove a hollow gesture. The only winner is Hamas. Rewarding terrorists will not eradicate their presence but embolden it. The caravan of appeasement is not one we should join.

“To the Australian Jewish community, I can only imagine the sense of betrayal you must feel.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says she holds hopes US President Donald Trump can “shift Vladimir Putin’s thinking” on the ongoing conflict with Ukraine during their upcoming Alaska leaders summit.

“I think it is a good thing that there is a meeting. I hope President Trump is able to shift President Putin’s thinking so that there can be negotiations with Ukrainians and a resolution on Ukrainians’ terms,” she told Sky News.

Senator Wong credited Donald Trump for being “uniquely placed” in terms of its influence on international relations and credited the US President for “success” in brokering ceasefires and lowering hostilities in recent conflicts.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley says the Coalition won’t recognise a Palestinian state without a “proper process in place” warning acting early will only “reward and embolden” terrorist group Hamas.

“This is a hollow gesture. We all want to see the suffering end but a peace process has to be real. (A) proper peace process is what the Palestine people deserve,” she said, saying she doesn’t agree with Anthony Albanese’s approach.

“Any peace and ceasefire will be brookered by the US. By doing this the Prime Minister breaks with our closest ally.”

Embattled casino giant Star Entertainment Group has struck a deal to sell off its share of a mega casino.

The group on Tuesday announced it had signed a binding long-form agreement with Hong Kong partners Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium Limited to sell its share of Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane.

The partners will take over Star’s 50 per cent share after previously holding 25 per cent shares.

“The transaction involves The Star disposing of its interest in DBC (the owner of Queen’s Wharf), consolidating its position at the Gold Coast and transferring other Brisbane assets and interests held by The Star to the joint venture partners,” Star’s ASX announcement said.

The deal has been approved by US group Bally’s Corp which had previously offered $300 million to save the group from appointing administrators.

Read the full story here.

Mark Latham has fired up outside a tribunal after an independent MP sought to submit additional evidence in a homosexual vilification case he launched against the former NSW One Nation leader.

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich launched proceedings against Mr Latham in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal over allegations of homosexual vilification and sexual harassment.

The case centres on a homophobic tweet made by Mr Latham and further comments he made on Twitter (now known as X) and in radio and newspaper interviews.

Mr Latham arrived at the NCAT on Tuesday morning just a day after he was warned that no further delays would be granted in the case following his lawyer Zali Burrows’ successful push for a one-day adjournment so he could be present for Mr Greenwich’s evidence.

“Here at NCAT dealing with the absurd proposition that Alex Greenwich, the MLA for Sydney, is the first politician in history who should never be publicly criticised,” Mr Latham wrote on X.

Read the full story here.

Shadow IR Minister Tim Wilson has slammed Australia’s unconditional Palestinian Statehood recognition and insisted we should be “standing by our allies” in the United States and Israel.

The Liberal MP stressed that the decision announced on Monday could fracture Australia’s position with the nation’s long-term relationship with America.

“We should be standing by our allies,” Mr Wilson said.

“We don’t agree with every decision that’s made by the United States. We don’t agree with every decision that’s made by Israel either. But we should (be) working with them and standing by them as much as we can.

“But we’re now faced with a situation where we’re in open conflict, with their national interests and their security.”

“I think there’s only one person in denial and it’s our Prime Minister.”

Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tim Wilson has described Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestine State without conditions around terrorist group Hamas as “incredibly depressing”.

“I think it’s incredibly depressing. We’ve got a Government that is naive and is engaging in revisionism in terms of the issues.

“They’re now saying that we should be going along with this because it’s a bipartisan position. The Labor Government has shattered the bipartisan position.

“We now have almost a near-unconditional acceptance of a Palestinian state without any acceptance of the or expectation of the security of Israel.”

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie has warned Anthony Albanese’s decision to recognise a Palestinian statehood would only embolden the terrorist group Hamas.

“The Coalition thinks this is a bad decision. It’s historic for all the wrong reasons because it rewards and it empowers Hamas and it diminishes a close democratic ally in Israel,” Mr Hastie told ABC News Breakfast on Tuesday.

“This bloodshed is ultimately owned by Hamas.

“That’s why any plan going forward for statehood must have very clear conditions on removing Hamas from power, demilitarising and then normalising relations between the Israeli and the Palestinian people.

“I think it sends the wrong message to terrorist groups around the world.”