News and politics recap: Zomi Frankcom’s family call Israeli decision ‘an insult’

Firebrand Senator Jacqui Lambie has broken down in parliament, passionately demanding more support for women with reproductive issues.

Revealing her own painful battle, she accused Veterans Affairs of failing women who’ve served their country in a deeply personal and emotional revelation.

“About six months ago, my vagina started to prolapse. This is an injury that is directly connected to my back injuries from my time in the Army,” Lambie told parliament.

Unable to access a specialist in Tasmania and still waiting on her Department of Veterans Affairs claim, Lambie travelled to Canberra, paying $7000 for emergency surgery.

“They want us to fight for this country. You want us to have babies for the country. But you’re not interested in supporting our reproductive system,” she said.

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Greens leader Larissa Waters has blasted the decision by Israeli authorities to clear soldiers involved in the strike that killed Australian humanitarian worker Zomi Frankcom, describing the outcome as “outrageous”.

The Israel Defence Forces said its investigation found serious failures led soldiers to mistakenly believe a Hamas fighter was travelling in the World Central Kitchen convoy. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has also said Australia is “outraged” and will summon Israel’s ambassador to Canberra, while Ms Waters said sending the ambassador home should be considered.

“I think it’s just very clear that strong words are not enough to deter this sort of conduct. This means precisely that the Australian government needs to do more than just issue some strongly worded statements,” Ms Waters told ABC Radio National Breakfast.

“They need to sanction the state of Israel and they need to make sure that we are not involved in a two-way arms trade, which we are at the moment.”

Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti has called on Foreign Minister Penny Wong to send Israeli ambassador Hillel Newman home after the Israel Defence Forces cleared soldiers involved in the April 2024 strike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues.

Senator Wong has said Australia is “outraged” by the decision, which she says falls “far short” of the accountability expected, and will summon Newman over the findings as the Government considers its “next steps”.

Mr Sidoti, a commissioner on the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, went further, arguing Mr Newman should be expelled as an “unacceptable representative”.

“He has interfered in Australia’s internal politics, he has been offensive in dealing with Australian members of the flotilla that tried to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid and again, his government now has failed Australian citizens. So he should be told that he’s going home,” Mr Sidoti says.