Australian news and politics live: Clive Palmer joins political party Trumpet of Patriots, echoing Trump

Anthony Albanese has broken his silence on Islamophobic attacks on two Muslim women at a Victorian shopping centre last week.

“Any attack on people on the basis of their faith or who they are is reprehensible, and I certainly hope that the perpetrators get tracked down and face the full force of the law,” he said.

The Prime Minsiter also denied Australians view Islamophobia differently to anti-Semitism, pointing to the appointment of a special envoy on Islamophobia.

“I take all attacks on the basis of people’s faiths seriously,” he said.

His response comes on the heels of the Australian National Imams Council issuing a statement on Monday condemning the “heinous and barbaric” attacks and saying they represented a “horrifying escalation of Islamophobic violence targeted at innocent people in our communities simply because of their faith”.

“Despite the prompt response of police and ambulance officers at the scene, the aftermath of this incident has left the victims feeling ignored and fearing for their safety.”

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Clive Palmer has surprised us all once more, with a new plan to “make Australia great again”.

Inspired by the US President, the mining magnate has joined a new political party, Trumpet of Patriots, looking to lift Donald Trump’s policies and promises to “drain the swamp”.

Mr Palmer recently lost his bid to register his United Australia Party for the upcoming Federal election and has joined the new party as chairman.

He said the party would adopt many of Mr Trump’s policies including the establishment of an Elon Musk-inspired team to review “government waste”.

“Trumpet Patriots will put Australians first and make Australia great again,” Mr Palmer told a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday.

“We still have a democracy in this country, although the uni-party (two majors) wants to close it down.”

Mr Palmer said the party would target the cost of living, housing and government spending, in addition to adopting the same stance as the Trump administration on trans issues by only recognising two genders as female and male.

Also drawing on concerns about immigration levels, Mr Palmer said too much of it destroyed infrastructure and communities and the country should be for “all Australians living here”.

Asked if he would be running at the election, Mr Palmer said he was “too old”, also accidentally referring to the new party as the “trumpet of parrots” in a slip.

With AAP

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President Donald Trump and Elon Musk appear, at least from the Fox News interview, to have a very strong relationship.

Mr Trump has been taking Mr Musk with bringing his executive orders to life and saving the US Government from wasting tax dollars, something that in turns reflects well on the president.

The interviewed offered no suggestion to why Mr Musk is helping the US Government in an unpaid role other than Mr Trump saying the Tesla owner “loves America” and is a “good guy”.

The two defiantly shut down speculation that Mr Musk is gaining special privilege from his DOGE role, saying if there was a conflict, Mr Musk wouldn’t work on it.

That’s a wrap on President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s first sit-down interview apparently. After being told there was more to come after the break, Hannity told Fox News viewers he had run out of time. Odd thing for a pre-recorded interview.

There are a few things that should be called out from the interview.

Mr Trump often sat silent, allowing Mr Musk to fend for himself in the interview, a move that didn’t really backfire.

There were a few moments when it appeared Mr Musk was short-circuiting as he attempted to find the words he wanted to use, however those uncomfortable moments where few and far between.

Mr Musk appeared very uncomfortable about Mr Trump saying he was going to go to Mars. It is unclear if this is something that Mr Musk will actually do.

The countdown is on for Mr Musk to return the stranded NASA astronauts from space. Mr Trump has given the go ahead and Mr Musk says it will occur in “around four weeks”.

Mr Trump at one point mentioned he had “four years” to get the job done. His mentioning of four years may be welcomed by some as baseless concern simmers over the prospect of the Republican holding office longer than his term.

Mr Trump says there is no conflict in Mr Musk’s appointment.

“We won’t let him do it, if he’s got a conflict,” Mr Trump said.

“I haven’t asked the President for anything, ever,” Mr Musk said.

“If there’s a conflict he won’t be involved,” Mr Trump added.

“He is a very good person and he wants to see the country do well.”

Mr Trump thinks Mr Musk will save America $1 trillion.

“Social security won’t be touched,” Mr Trump said.

“Medicare, Medicade wont be touched.

“If there are illegal migrants in the system, were going to get them out of the system. Fraud.”

“The average tax-paying American should be mad as hell because their tax money is being poorly spent,” Mr Musk said when asked about US funds being spent on foreign aid.

Hannity highlighted spending including $20m on a Sesame Street program in Iraq, a DEI musical in Ireland, trangsgender surgery in Columbia amongst other “questionable” spending that Fox News displayed on screen.

“The overall goal is to try to get a trillion dollars out of the deficit and if the defict is not brought under control, America will go bankrupt,” Mr Musk said.

“They spent money like nobody has ever spent,” Mr Trump adding, talking about the Democrats.

“In order to save taxpayer money, it comes down to two things. Competence and caring,” Mr Musk said.

“When you add competence and caring you get a better deal for the America people.”

Mr Trump said “When you send in a bill, you expect to be cut.”

“I could cut these bills in half.

“You offer people a much lower number because you know they actually put fat.

“It’s a way of business because they expect to negotiate.”

Mr Musk has defended criticism that he is working against the Constitution.

“Winning the election is the opportunity to fix the system,” Mr Musk said.

“When these attacks occure, the things they are accusing the administation of, is what they are guilty of,” before Mr Trump jumped in.

“That’s always the first thing they do, ‘He’s in violation of the constitution’. It’s a con job,” Mr Trump said.

“When I bought Air Force One, I negotiated the price,” Mr Trump said.

“Now they’re not building the plane fast enough. They’re actually in deafult, Boeing.

“We don’t build like we used to. We used to build a ship a day and now building a ship is a big deal. We are going to get this country back on track.”