News and politics live updates: Burke says Hanson’s ISIS fighters bill would ‘last 30 seconds in High Court’

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher was forced to defend her handling of the Brittany Higgins case, maintaining that questions she asked as an opposition senator were justified despite findings that there was no evidence of a cover-up by the Morrison government.

Her comments follow a report by The Australian that the Commonwealth had settled legal action brought by former Liberal staffer Fiona Brown, who served as chief of staff to then defence minister Linda Reynolds when Ms Higgins worked in the office.

The political dispute centred on Labor’s claims that the Morrison government had covered up Ms Higgins’ rape allegation. However, judges have since found there was no evidence of a cover-up, despite those allegations made by the then-opposition.

Speaking to ABC Radio, Senator Gallagher stood by the questions Labor pursued at the time.

“I think the questions we asked during that time were entirely appropriate,” she said.

“When I reflect on that time, I think it was reasonable that opposition senators, in the case of my conduct, asked questions of the government at the time in relation to an alleged rape or a rape that has been found by court that happened in this building in a minister’s office.”

Senator Gallagher had previously declined to comment while Ms Brown’s legal action was before the courts.

A controversial segment on the ABC that depicted violence against billionaire Gina Rinehart has been referred to the Ombudsman by the broadcaster.

Communications Minister Anika Wells finally conceded on Wednesday that it was unacceptable.

“My personal view is it’s unacceptable. Like any Australian, there’s stuff I see on TV that I don’t agree with,” she said.

“As the Minister for Communications, I respect the editorial independence of the ABC, but I understand they have now referred it to the Ombudsman. I think that was the right thing to do.”

The four-minute film broadcast was part of the ABC’s Race Around The World series.

The film ended with a graphic description of violence directed towards Ms Rinehart.

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Donald Trump has unleashed a foul-mouthed threat against Iran after Tehran launched ballistic missiles at a US airbase in Jordan, prompting a joint American and Saudi response.

Speaking to Fox News, the US President vowed further action would be taken if attacks on American forces continued.

“We’re going to beat the f..king s..t out of them ,” Mr Trump said.

“We’ll be hitting them hard. They’re going to get a beating.”

Mr Trump said every missile fired towards the American airbase in Jordan had been intercepted before reaching its target.

The threat came as the US and Saudi Arabia ended a four-day pause in military action, carrying out their first coordinated strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

On Tuesday local time, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American and Saudi Arabian forces carried out precision airstrikes on targets in eastern Iraq linked to Iran-backed groups.

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