‘Sometimes, friends have to be clear with each other’, Albanese says of decision to sanction Israeli ministers
Anthony Albanese has said “Australia makes their own decisions” after being asked if he was concerned about the American response to his decision to sanction two Israeli ministers.
While holding a press conference a little earlier in Sydney, the prime minister was also asked if Australia would go further if the sanctions do not prompt change. Albanese responded:
What we’ve done here is make a specific decision based upon the positions that have been put forward by these two Israeli ministers. Based upon our concerns about the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Based upon our concerns about violence in the area being promoted, including by the actions and rhetoric of these ministers.
We support a clear resolution in the Middle East. We have been outspoken about calling for, firstly, for a ceasefire, for the hostages to be released. We have made it clear we see that Hamas should have no role in the future of the region. We support Israel’s right to live and to exist in secure borders. But we also support the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians.
Now, sometimes, friends have to be clear with each other. We’ve been clear with the Israeli government about our concerns, which we’ve raised continuously, both privately and through previous statements that have been made by Australia, New Zealand and Canada, in particular, with joint statements. And this statement we have made clear – that makes our position very clear about these two ministers.
Key events
EU ambassador says any effort that addresses Palestinian suffering ‘welcome’ after Israeli sanctions
Gabriele Visentin, the European Union’s ambassador to Australia, was asked about the new joint sanctions unveiled against two top Israeli cabinet minister this morning. He told the National Press Club:
Any effort leading to a relief of the human suffering of the Palestinian population is welcome. The EU position is that humanitarian aid should be allowed in, and to help to overcome the current dire situation of the Palestinian population has to be solved. …
Our position has always been through the years, and continues to be, that the only valuable solution, long-term, lasting solution, is the 2-state solution. This is what we continue to work on and to insist upon.
We have to consider the absolute right of Israel not only to exist, but to defend itself from terrorism – but we also have to guarantee a dignified life to the Palestinians.
Josh Butler
Shadow foreign minister wants more information on thought process behind Israeli sanctions
The shadow foreign minister, Michaelia Cash, says the Coalition wants to know more about why the Labor government enacted sanctions on two Israeli ministers, saying the sanctioning of a key ally was a “very serious development”. Cash said in a statement:
We have not received a briefing about this matter but would expect there to be a very high threshold for this decision. Labor should be clear who initiated this process, on what basis they have done so and who made the decision.
I note the United States, who is leading the ceasefire process, has said this will not help to achieve a ceasefire. It is for the government to explain how this action contributes to the safe return of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, and a lasting peace in the Middle East.
Cash claimed the government had “seemingly lowered the threshold” for imposing Magnitsky-style sanctions, and called for an explanation as to whether a similar standard would be applied to “comments made by officials from other countries”.
This may have serious implications for our international relationships.
EU ambassador says Europe and Australia ‘can and must team up’ to protect democracy
Gabriele Visentin, the EU’s ambassador to Australia, is speaking about trade and the ongoing relationship between Europe and Australia at the National Press Club. Visentin stressed the EU believes “Europe and Australia are more than markets to each other”, adding:
We are more than a set of institutions. Our relationship is about more than the economy. It’s about prosperity. It’s about security. And it’s about democracy. And this is the very moment to stand up for our strengths and values. …
Europe and Australia can and must team up to protect our own rules and values and our democracies, which are strong but should never be taken for granted.
Albanese says he understands flight paths ‘as a Marrickville resident’
The prime minister was speaking from the site of the new airport in western Sydney earlier. He addressed the recent announcements of the airport’s new flight paths, responding to a question about their impacts on some communities by saying they are “fair” and the subject of “enormous community consultation”. Albanese said:
We want to make sure that we maximise the economic opportunity that comes from this airport while minimising any impact of aircraft noise that occurs. That is what we have put forward with these plans.
… As a Marrickville resident, I’m very conscious about these issues. But we have gone to a great deal of trouble to make sure that there is minimum disruption and minimum impact of aircraft noise.
Sydney’s Marrickville, parts of which sit beneath the flight paths for the current airport, is known for loud aircraft noise. Read more about the city’s second airport here:
Amanda Meade
ABC confirms Q+A will be axed after 18 years, with scores of redundancies across public broadcaster
The ABC’s Q+A program has been cancelled after 18 years, the broadcaster has confirmed, amid wider changes that will result in scores of redundancies across the public broadcaster.
The round of changes will fund new programming at the ABC under reforms yet to be announced by the new managing director, Hugh Marks.
Marks, who joined the ABC in March, is set to unveil his first round of reforms at the public broadcaster, which Guardian Australia understands will include at least 80 redundancies.
Read more here:
Benita Kolovos
IVF on the agenda at national meeting of health ministers
The Victorian health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, confirmed the regulation of private fertility services will be on the agenda when federal and state health ministers meet in Melbourne on Friday.
It follows reports of a second botched embryo implantation by Monash IVF in Victoria, which is now being investigated by the state regulator. Two months earlier, the same company confirmed a similar incident in Queensland where a woman unknowingly gave birth to another couple’s baby due to a similar error.
Thomas says she was looking forward to hearing from the federal health minister, Mark Butler, on a possible national regulator. She said:
I’m always open to ways in which we can improve the quality of care that so many Victorians rely on. When we’re thinking about fertility care, it’s such an emotional rollercoaster for so many families … and I want to ensure that we’ve got regulation that’s fit for purpose and people can have confidence in these private fertility services in which they invest so much money.
‘Sometimes, friends have to be clear with each other’, Albanese says of decision to sanction Israeli ministers
Anthony Albanese has said “Australia makes their own decisions” after being asked if he was concerned about the American response to his decision to sanction two Israeli ministers.
While holding a press conference a little earlier in Sydney, the prime minister was also asked if Australia would go further if the sanctions do not prompt change. Albanese responded:
What we’ve done here is make a specific decision based upon the positions that have been put forward by these two Israeli ministers. Based upon our concerns about the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Based upon our concerns about violence in the area being promoted, including by the actions and rhetoric of these ministers.
We support a clear resolution in the Middle East. We have been outspoken about calling for, firstly, for a ceasefire, for the hostages to be released. We have made it clear we see that Hamas should have no role in the future of the region. We support Israel’s right to live and to exist in secure borders. But we also support the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians.
Now, sometimes, friends have to be clear with each other. We’ve been clear with the Israeli government about our concerns, which we’ve raised continuously, both privately and through previous statements that have been made by Australia, New Zealand and Canada, in particular, with joint statements. And this statement we have made clear – that makes our position very clear about these two ministers.
Footage shows moment ABC camera operator is struck with non-lethal round in LA protests
Tom McIlroy
Greens say sanctions on Israeli officials welcome but ‘extremely late’
The Greens say Australia’s decision to join the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing financial sanctions and travel bans on two Israeli government ministers is welcome but “extremely late”.
The sanctions announced overnight are for Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, in response to serious human rights violations and abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, including Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law.
The Greens’ foreign affairs spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said:
Sanctions against two extremist Israeli cabinet ministers who incite appalling violence against Palestinians are extremely late, but welcome. However they will not stop the genocide.
The world must now urgently sanction the Israeli war industry and end the two-way weapons trade.
The US condemnation of these modest sanctions is another clear demonstration of how far our two countries’ values are diverging. The Australian government must start listening to the growing groundswell of public opinion and end Aukus as part of a comprehensive review of our military dependency on the US.
Millions of people around the world have come together to force their governments to do this. Global solidarity is daily confronting power and entitlement to demand a Free Palestine.
‘Less lethal’ munitions are designed to cause pain and disperse crowds – but they can still be deadly
There’s been a lot of chatter about the “less lethal” munitions deployed by police officers in Los Angeles. Here is a list of the less lethal weapons that have been deployed in the city in recent days, according to Reuters witnesses, the Los Angeles police department, and a police expert who has been monitoring the protests. Reuters reports:
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Sponge rounds: The LAPD says it does not use rubber bullets. Instead, the LAPD uses foam rounds, a condensed sponge projectile. They resemble a hard Nerf ball, said Spencer Fomby, a retired police captain and less lethal weapons instructor.
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Bean bag rounds: Bean bag rounds are normally 37mm cloth bags filled with 1.4 oz of lead or rubber pellets. They are fired from shotguns and spread out as they fly toward the intended target.
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Flash bangs: Flash bangs, otherwise known as “distraction devices” or “noise flash diversionary devices,” produce an ear-piercing bang and bright light to disorient targets by temporarily disrupting their sight and hearing.
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Teargas: teargas, one of the most common riot control tools, is designed to temporarily incapacitate people by causing excessive irritation to the eyes, nose, lungs, and skin.
The LAPD also uses pepper spray, pepper balls and batons. Less lethal weapons have caused serious injury and death in the past.
In 2023, a 47-year-old woman was killed after being hit by beanbag rounds fired by NSW police.
At least five journalists hit by crowd-control weapons covering LA protests
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Nine correspondent Lauren Tomasi was hit in the leg on-camera with a projectile.
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ABC correspondent Lauren Day said she was hit by teargas during her coverage.
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An ABC camera operator was filming a group of protesters when officers opened fire with less lethal rounds. He was hit in the chest with “what may have been a rubber or foam round” but was wearing a Kevlar vest. He described the pain as like “being punched in the chest”, Day reported.
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Nick Stern, a British photographer based in LA, underwent emergency surgery after being hit with a non-lethal round. He said he was covering the events when he looked down and saw “something hard sticking out the back of my leg”.
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The New York Times’ Livia Albeck-Ripka said she was hit by crowd-control munitions just below her ribcage. She said she was not seriously injured, but had a “nasty” bruise.
Important information if you have a Jetstar Asia booking
Qantas said any customers with existing bookings for a cancelled flight on a Jetstar Asia plane will be offered a full refund, with the company looking to reaccommodate people on other airlines “where possible”.
Qantas to close Jetstar Asia, cutting 500 jobs
Qantas says it will close Jetstar Asia, an offshoot of its low-cost carrier that flies 16 intra-Asia routes. The airline will continue to operate flights for the next seven weeks on a progressively reduced schedule, before ending altogether on 31 July.
Five hundred jobs will be cut in Singapore, with about 100 to open up in Australia and New Zealand.
Qantas issued a media release on Wednesday morning:
Jetstar Asia … has faced growing challenges in recent years and the decision has been made … to close the airline.
Despite delivering exceptional customer service and operational reliability; Jetstar Asia has been impacted by rising supplier costs, high airport fees, and intensified competition in the region.
Qantas will redeploy 13 aircraft from those Asian routes to Australia and New Zealand. The company is working to redeploy affected workers in Singapore to other roles or airlines. It’s unclear how many of those are Australians based overseas, but most are believed to be Singaporean.
Luca Ittimani
Three retailers fined by ACCC for misleading Black Friday sales
Major retailers Michael Hill, MyHouse and Hairhouse Online have been fined nearly $20,000 each over alleged misleading Black Friday sales advertising.
The businesses had falsely described discounts as applying “sitewide,” giving customers the incorrect impression that sales applied to all goods or at higher rates than was actually the case, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged. ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said:
Advertisements that talk about ‘sitewide’ or ‘storewide’ sales or promise discounts ‘off everything’ should deliver what customers expect, and not be used by retailers to hook consumers under false pretences.
Jewellery retailer Michael Hill paid a $19,800 penalty after the ACCC issued an infringement notice over advertising a “Member Event 25% off Sitewide” sale despite offering no discount on some products online, Lowe said.
Beauty business Hairhouse and homewares retailer MyHouse paid the same penalty after receiving one infringement notice each for Black Friday advertising. Hairhouse’s website advertised customers could “SAVE 20% to 50% SITEWIDE,” though the ACCC said at least a quarter of the products onsite were not included in the sale offer.
MyHouse displayed online graphics telling shoppers they could save “Up to 60% Off Sitewide + EXTRA 20% off,” which the watchdog said was misleading because the extra 20% discount was not available on all products.
The ACCC said it had investigated dozens of Black Friday and Boxing Day sales advertisements from 2024 that may have misrepresented the size and scope of discounts on offer.
Australian NY Times reporter describes ‘intense’ pain of being hit by non-lethal weapon in LA
Livia Albeck-Ripka, an Australian reporter working for the New York Times, said she was hit by a crowd-control munition while covering the ongoing immigration protests in Los Angeles. She said she was covering the events earlier this week, where she witnessed many measures deployed by police officers, saying in a video for the Times:
I myself … witnessed massive, loud flash-bangs, teargas being released, munitions being fired, a number of people injured. And I happened to be one of them.
Around midnight during a night of coverage, Albeck-Ripka said officers quickly began deploying munitions as soon as she arrived on scene:
Officers began firing crowd-control munitions in our direction, and I was hit below my ribcage. It was a pretty intense instant pain, I felt winded. I was really lucky because I was not seriously injured, I just have a nasty bruise.
Albeck-Ripka noted she did see some protesters throwing rocks and rental scooters over an overpass and noted some did light autonomous vehicles on fire, “so there was some threat of violence.”
At the same time the vast majority of protesters were acting peacefully.
Search continues for man near Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain
Crews will resume their search for 52-year-old Christopher Inwood in the Cradle Mountain area. Concerns for his welfare began on Tuesday after the man’s white Toyota van was found at the car park of a ranger station in the area. Officials later found a backpack they believe belonged to him about 500 metres away in the direction of Dove Lake.
Emergency crews involving ground patrols and helicopters will search the area today.
Inwood was last seen about 8.30pm on Monday in Kindred, Tasmania, and officials believe he drove to Cradle Mountain later that night.
