Australian news and politics live: Chalmers says Australia’s Palestinian recognition is about peace, not Hamas

Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash has said Anthony Albanese should be ashamed after his government was praised by terrorist group Hamas for his call to recognise a Palestinian state.

Senator Cash said a statement given to Nine Newspapers on Wednesday proved the PM was “completely out of his depth on this vital foreign policy” and had jumped too early without conditions to recognise a state still controlled by Hamas.

“Anthony Albanese should hang his head in shame after being praised today by the terrorist group Hamas for his decision to recognise a Palestinian state,” Senator Cash said.

“Mr Albanese has emboldened a terror group that murders civilians in cold blood and still hold 50 Israeli hostages in tunnels under Gaza.

“All Australians should be appalled at the massive propaganda victory Mr Albanese has handed Hamas on a platter.

“This is a sad day for our nation.

“Mr Albanese should explain whether he’ll still pursue recognition knowing it has the clear endorsement of terrorists.”

Terror group Hamas has thanked the Albanese government for its decision to recognise Palestinian statehood in September at the UN General Assembly.

Co-founder of Hamas Sheikh Hassan Yousef applauded Australia for showing “political courage” in a statement it provided to The Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday.

“We welcome Australia’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine, and consider it an important step towards achieving justice for our people and securing their legitimate rights,” he said in the statement.

“This position reflects political courage and a commitment to the values of justice and the right of peoples to self-determination.

“We call on all countries, especially those that believe in freedom and human dignity, to follow Australia’s example and translate their positions into practical steps to support the Palestinian people and end their suffering under occupation.”

Hamas is listed as a designated terrorist group by the Australian government and has been condemned for the civilian attack.

Senator Fatima Payman has called on the Albanese Government to clarify its plans following the Palestinian state recognition at the September UN General Assembly, urging it to consider further actions.

In an ABC radio on Wednesday, said enforcing accountability mattered more than symbolism, and urged the government to consider sanctions or cutting military ties with Israel.

“This is a monumental step, but not the finish line,” Senator Payman said.

“They haven’t made any mention of what’s going to happen afterwards.

“Are there going to be targeted sanctions? Are they going to stop sending parts and parts of weapons to Israel? Are we going to see more accountability?”

Senator Fatima Payman says she wouldn’t return to Labor and stands by her decision to quit over the recognition of a Palestinian state.

Asked on ABC radio on Wednesday if she would like an apology from the Labor government or Prime Minister, Senator Payman responded: “Look, I’ve let bygones be bygones”.

When asked if she would consider rejoining the party, Senator Payman bluntly answered “no”.

“It’s unfortunate that… the whole thing panned out the way it did,” she said.

“But I know that I was on the right side of history.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he remains ready to meet the US President despite questions whether Australia’s recent recognition of Palestine might jeopardise a potential meeting at next month’s UN General Assembly in New York.

Asked at a Queensland press conference on Wednesday, the PM said he hadn’t rescheduled a meeting with Donald Trump after their planned G7 sideline meeting in Canada was cancelled in June, but was open to it.

“I am available for a meeting with President Trump at very short notice at any time,” the PM said.

“I will continue to engage. We are engaged with our American colleagues on a ministerial level, and I have been engaged in constructive discussions with President Trump.

“We had three very warm and cordial discussions. He has spoken about them publicly, and I thank him for that.

“He gave me a very warm phone conversation after my election as Prime Minister and made some public comments about what he thought, which were very generous, and I thank him for that.”

WA independent Senator Fatima Payman has conceded she should have spent more time on the west coast ahead of the May 3 Federal Election, saying it was one of many learnings from her new party, Australia’s Voice’s poor results.

Senator Payman told an ABC interview on Wednesday morning that she’ll scrap the party’s name and admits she would need to shake up the campaign next election.

“It would be good for us to add my name to the party but that’s just one small learning,” she said.

“I’d spent way too much time over East. I had… stretched myself way too thin across five different states. As a WA Senator, my time campaigning should have been spent more in WA.”

Mr Chalmers has reiterated the Albanese Government’s stance on the Israel–Palestine conflict, making clear that the recent recognition of a Palestinian state is designed to advance peace and to exclude Hamas from any future leadership role.

Mr Chalmers said the government’s position had been consistent: hostage releases must happen, and the path forward lies in a genuine two-state solution.

“First of all we’ve been very clear on our position of the release of the hostages,” Mr Chalmers said.

“The announcement the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister made this week is about isolating and excluding Hamas from the future leadership of Palestine, a state of Palestine.”

He described the decision as Australia’s contribution to “international progress and momentum” towards a settlement where “families in Israel and in Palestine can raise their kids in peace.”

Mr Chalmers stressed that Hamas would “absolutely” have no role in that future, framing recognition of a Palestinian state as both a symbolic and practical step to break the cycle of violence.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has labelled this week “really important” for the Australian economy, with the third interest rate cut in six months delivering meaningful cost-of-living relief for households.

Mr Chalmers said today’s encouraging wages data should be seen in the same light as part of a broader push to ease financial pressures while supporting growth.

“We are making progress,” he said, “but growth in our economy is not where we need it to be.”

He added that productivity will be the major focus of the upcoming Economic Reform Roundtable — a key step towards making the economy more sustainable and lifting living standards.

In the lead-up to the roundtable, Mr Chalmers welcomed what he called “real progress” this morning, citing the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s new ruling, RJ97. The rule requires investors to declare their stamp duty costs when purchasing housing, acting as a deterrent for overly competitive investors in the market.

The Treasurer said the reform forms part of ongoing engagement aimed at boosting transparency, fairness, and long-term resilience in the housing sector.

Anthony Albanese says he’s open to hearing a range of ideas out of the economic reform and roundtable next week, but it doesn’t mean they’ll eventuate into government policy.

Asked during a Queensland press conference on Wednesday what he thought of the ACTU’s push for a shorter work week, the PM said “the Government has no plans” in the mix.

“Look, people will come up with a whole range of ideas. That’s not a bad thing,” he said.

“I’m not gonna give a running commentary on all of them, but certainly the Government has no plans.

“In a range of industries, sometimes people work different hours.

“The ACTU, of course, is entitled to put forward whatever ideas it likes. But that doesn’t mean, as I’ve said, that it’s government policy because someone put forward an idea.”

Anthony Albanese has credited Queensland Premier David Crisafulli for lobbying the leaders of Japan and India for Queensland to host the powerful diplomatic Quad Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane next year.

The Prime Minister dubbed it as an “opportunity to showcase” Brisbane ahead of the Olympics in 2032 and said he was open to working with the State LNP leader.

“I think David Crisafulli has pitched up very strongly and I support his argument,” the PM said.

“I think in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032, it is an opportunity to showcase this great global city to the world.

“It attracts thousands of people, not just the four leaders, but it also attracts great international attention.

“And I want to showcase this great state of Queensland to the world, particularly in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032.

“I’ll work constructively with the Premier to make sure that that happens.”