News and politics live updates: Telstra bosses face grilling at senate inquiry after outage

Donald Trump is moments away from delivering a national address at the White House.

The US President has revealed little detail about his speech but teased it will contain “really big news” about election security.

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On Saturday morning, Pauline Hanson is set to swap lounging poolside with Gina Rinehart at the Sicilian Grand Hotel San Pietro for another waterfront destination — London’s Intercontinental hotel at the O2 overlooking the Thames at North Greenwich.

She may wish she stayed behind in Italy if the first day of the conference is anything to go by.

CPAC-GB is a UK offshoot of the American juggernaut Conservative Political Action Conference, which brings together the movers and shakers on the right-wing of politics.

Australia has an established CPAC offshoot but Britain one appears to be gasping to make its first breath. It may be due to the local architect.

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Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia is “deeply frustrated and bitterly disappointed” that Lao authorities are not pursuing the most serious charges over the methanol poisoning deaths of Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, announcing the Government is escalating its diplomatic response.

Mr Wong said Special Envoy Pablo Kang had been directed to travel to Laos immediately to formally convey Australia’s objections, while the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has summoned the Lao Ambassador in Canberra.

She also confirmed she would raise the issue directly with her Lao counterpart at next week’s ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in Manila.

“The Prime Minister and I have asked Mr Kang to travel to Laos today to convey the Australian Government’s objections and reinforce our expectations for an investigation that delivers justice for Holly, Bianca, and the other victims of the methanol poisoning,” she said.

Pauline Hanson has anointed her daughter, Lee Hanson, as a “potential” future One Nation leader but says she will have to prove herself.

Appearing on a podcast with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson she has also vowed to win the next election so she could deliver on pledges to slash migration, stop Muslim hate preachers and ban the burqa.

In the one hour recording released this morning says her daughter is “frightened” about where Australia is going and has expressed an interest in entering politics.

“She’s the future. She’s, I’m, I’m like this, (slaps fist) this me. Whereas she’s got the softer approach,” Senator Hanson before being asked by Robinson if she could be leader.

“She’s got the potential but I don’t believe in nepotism an she has to prove herself not only to me, but also to the other members and to the public and everything like that. That’s something she has to earn.”

Bianca Jones’ parents have pleaded with Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong to continue pressing Laos for justice, saying they are devastated by reports those allegedly responsible for the deaths of five tourists could face a maximum sentence of just one year in jail and a collective fine of about $1600.

“I would ask that Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong continue their engagement with Laos,” Bianca’s father said. “It’s unacceptable that the passing of our daughter, her best friend Holly and three other beautiful women... come down to the potential maximum outcome of one year in jail and $1,600.”

Her mother said the news left the family feeling as though “their lives didn’t even matter”, while the couple also issued a stark warning to Australians considering travelling to Laos.

“Don’t go to Laos. Your life doesn’t matter,” Bianca’s father said, urging travellers to stick to sealed drinks if they head overseas.

Universities have been accused of letting hate run unfettered on their campuses, as a royal commission into anti-Semitism continues to hear from the tertiary education sector.

The Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council says university leadership allowed anti-Semitism to flourish almost unchecked.

“The harrowing testimony of Jewish students and staff, together with the evidence of several university vice chancellors, has laid bare systematic failures of university leadership,” the council said in a statement.

“These hearings should be a watershed moment. Australian universities should finally accept responsibility and accountability for their failures and commit to the meaningful reforms.”

The statement comes as university officials grapple with how academic freedom and the right to protest were allowed amid the increasing tensions of the war in Gaza.

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Health Minister Mark Butler was forced to defend Anthony Albanese’s decision to skip this year’s Garma Festival despite the Prime Minister previously committing to attend every year he remained in office, arguing leaders cannot fulfil every commitment they make.

“Anthony has gone to Garma more than any other leader... certainly more than any other Prime Minister,” Mr Butler said.

“The Prime Minister simply can’t make every single commitment he’s asked to. He’s shown enormous commitment to this festival in every one of the last several years, and I’m sure he’ll be there at another time in the future, just not this year.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume has accused Anthony Albanese of breaking another promise after the Prime Minister confirmed he would miss this year’s Garma Festival despite previously pledging to attend annually while in office.

“Everybody deserves some time off. Everybody deserves a day off at some stage,” Ms Hume said.

“But pick another week. This was a commitment that the Prime Minister made. He looked people in the eye and he said, I will be here every year... it’s not as if this is the first promise that the Prime Minister has broken.”