Australian news and politics live: Treasurer announces big changes to superannuation tax plans
Scroll down for the latest news and updates.
Key Events
Social media giants snub Senate hearing
A Senate committee has threatened to subpoena TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat after the social media giants refused to appear alongside other tech companies.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the committee would explore their powers to compel executives to give evidence.
“I did also request that Meta, SnapChat and TikTok appear today. They, so far, have refused,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“We will be discussing what we do. I, for one, think that . . . we should be using the powers of the Senate to subpoena their appearance.”
Hanson demands police act on Thorpe’s ‘vile’ behaviour
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says Lidia Thorpe’s threat to ‘burn down’ Parliament House should be the trigger for federal police to investigate the controversial senator’s behaviour.
Ms Hanson has released a copy of a letter to the new federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett demanding action.
“The shameful actions of former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe at yesterday’s pro-Palestine protests should be immediately investigated by the Federal Police,” Ms Hanson said on Monday.
“Unlike the weak response from other politicians, I have written to the Federal Police Commissioner seeking her assistance.
“I am sick to death of no one taking action against Senator Thorpe for her vile behaviour.
“Incitement is very clear: Intentionally urging a person or group to use force or violence against another group, based on race, religion, nationality, or political opinion.
“If it were you or I who threatened to burn down Parliament House, we would have already received a knock on the door from authorities who would have taken us in for questioning.
“Enough is enough,” Ms Hanson concluded.
‘The war is over’: Trump
World leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are on their way to Israel to discuss peace in Gaza as Hamas prepares to release Israeli hostages.
On board Air Force One President Trump has declared the war that has raged for two years is over.
“The war is over, you understand that?” the US President said.
Asked about prospects for the region, Mr Trump said, “I think it’s going to normalise”.
‘It was a figure of speech’: Thorpe defends wild comment
Rogue independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has defended her threat to “burn down Parliament”, saying it was a figure of speech.
In a statement she said she was a victim of “mock outrage”.
“My rally remarks were clearly a figure of speech – a metaphor for the pain in our communities and the urgent need to end genocide in Palestine and everywhere.
“They were obviously not a literal threat.
“While people are dying and starving in Gaza, politicians and media are once again clutching their pearls and chasing a scandal instead of focusing on what really matters.
“This is just another political game designed to distract from the real issues.
“I have always rejected violence. Any suggestion otherwise misrepresents my long‑standing commitment to pursuing justice and self-determination for First Peoples and all oppressed peoples through peaceful, democratic means.”
Littleproud calls on parliament to act on ‘unhinged’ Thorpe
The Nationals Leader has ripped into independent senator Lidia Thorpe.
“Lidia Thorpe is railing against the democracy that has given her these freedoms, but also paying her wages every fortnight,” David Littleproud told Sky News.
“The parliament should look at this...this isn’t the standard all 226 of us should set.
Mr Littleproud said parliament should not “walk past” Senator Thorpe’s latest outrageous comments.
“This is her business model, but when a business model becomes this desperate, this unhinged, making threats of this nature, then the parliament has a responsibility to stand up and explore every avenue to make sure a strong message is sent to Lidia Thorpe and any other fringe dweller who wants to destroy our democracy.”
Backlash grows over Lidia Thorpe’s ‘burn Parliament’ threat
Lidia Thorpe is facing condemnation from a chorus of her parliamentary colleagues after she told a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday that she was prepared to “burn down Parliament house” to support them
To cheers from the crowd, she told them: “So we stand with you every day, and we will fight every day, and we will turn up every day and if I have to burn down Parliament House to make a point … I am not there to make friends.”
Nationals leader David Littleproud said Ms Thorpe had “gone too far” and has called on his colleagues to review her actions.
Labor Ministers and Nationals deputy Ted O’Brien have also spoken out this morning to call out Senator Thorpe’s comment.
