Australian news and politics live: Senator Mehreen Faruqi stages silent protest during G-G Sam Mostyn’s speech
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Key Events
Greens: Australia must do more than words on Gaza aid
The Greens have welcomed Australia signing a joint statement calling for an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza.
However, Greens leader Larissa Waters says these “stern words” are not enough, arguing that the Netanyahu government isn’t responding and urging Australia to take further action to get vital aid into Gaza.
“It’s great that the government signed on to a letter, but I’m afraid we need actual help to people on the ground there,” Waters told RN Breakfast.
She added that many international law experts share the view that blocking aid is a crime of starvation.
Burke calls latest Gaza statement Australia's strongest yet
Australia’s latest joint statement with 24 other nations calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza represents “the strongest so far,” according to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
Mr Burke said this statement is just the latest in a “series of very strong statements” the government had issued on the crisis.
The statement, signed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and counterparts from countries including the UK and New Zealand, condemns Israel for depriving Palestinians of “human dignity.”
Mr Burke reiterated that Australia has called for a ceasefire since 2023, following the outbreak of the conflict.
“There’s been a series of very strong statements that we’ve made… When you can make a statement together with so many other significant powers, then, you know, we’re all hoping that there’ll be something that will break this,” Mr Burke told ABC News Breakfast.
Both sides of politics come together in traditional service
Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Sussan Ley have arrived at a church service in Canberra in a tradition to start the new Parliamentary term.
The service is a chance for both sides of politics to come together before the 48th Parliament sits on Tuesday.
Accompanied by fiancée Jodie Haydon, the PM smiled when asked whether he was excited for day one of the new parliament: “Indeed, it will be a good day”.
In a sign of solidarity, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Liberal Angus Taylor walked in side-by-side.
Among attendees was Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Nationals leader David Littleproud and his colleague Michael McCormack.
Australia joins UK and more than 20 other countries condemning Gaza aid site killings
Australia has joined the United Kingdom, France, and more than 20 other countries in demanding an immediate end to the war in Gaza and for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed the joint statement on Australia’s behalf, with the signatories condemning the mounting toll on civilians and highlighting that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access food and water.
“The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity,” the statement declared.
The majority of those killed were in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, which the United States and Israel backed to take over aid distribution in the Gaza Strip from a network led by the United Nations.
Burke highlights super tax plan as parliament resumes
offered clarity on possible superannuation tax changes, attempting to reassure most Australians:
“This is not for ordinary superannuation accounts. Superannuation is there for people’s retirement,” he told Sunrise on Tuesday morning.
“There is a proposal already in the budget but it hasn’t been legislated yet, which is to deal with people where they will still get tax concessions… but it is where your superannuation balance is more than $3 million.”
