TRANSCRIPT
- The PM says the hate speech and gun reform bill is to be split before it's introduced to the Parliament on Tuesday.
- Greenland's Indigenous population says it does not want to be colonised a second time.
- And in tennis, the Special Ks set to take the court together for the mens doubles at the Australian Open.
----
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced he'll be splitting the government's planned hate speech and gun reform bill in two to ensure the passage of both sets of laws.
Parliament is returning next week earlier than planned to discuss legislative changes, with the proposed bills needing the support of either the Coalition or the Greens to pass.
While the Coalition suggested they would not support the bill, the Greens told the government they'd be willing to pass gun reform measures but could not back the hate speech components.
Anthony Albanese says that's why the bill will be split before it enters the house of Representatives on Tuesday.
"The gun laws will be separate and then the laws on hate crimes and migration will proceed. But we will not be proceeding with the racial vilification provisions because it's clear that it will not have support. We will only proceed with measures that have the support of the parliament."
----
The Trump administration has named two more members to its so-called "Board of Peace" for Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair are to join other founding members, including US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
President Donald Trump announced the board's formation this week, calling it the "Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place".
He is to chair it, as part of his 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas.
It is expected to temporarily oversee the running of Gaza and manage its reconstruction.
----
The leader of Greenland's Inuit Circumpolar Council says the Indigenous population does not want to be colonised a second time.
Denmark’s leaders have already rejected the US push to take over Greenland - but Greenlanders themselves say they are continually excluded from discussions about the future of their island.
Leaders of Greenland’s five political parties recently released a statement saying they do not wish to be Americans - or Danish - and instead want the right to self-determination.
Circumpolar Council represents around 180,000 Inuit from Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.
Its Chair, Sara Olsvig, says President Trump's threats are therefore deeply concerning.
"I've seen over the past weeks and months, numerous, numerous expressions of support from fellow Inuit across the line, and also from many other Indigenous peoples. And I think we all share the concern in the sense that we are seeing a repetition of colonialism and imperialism that we know. Because we have already been colonised and none of us want to be colonised again."
----
Extreme weather events continue to lash parts of Australia's east coast.
Dangerous thunderstorms are forcing beach closures and prompting flash-flood warnings across New South Wales.
The week's sweltering heat has been replaced by heavy rain and damaging winds along the state's south coast and parts of the Illawarra, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains.
A severe thunderstorm warning also remains in place for the Central Coast and Mid North Coast regions, which could see isolated rainfall of up to 120 millimetres in the next 24 hours, along with strong winds and hail.
----
In tennis,
Nick Kyrgios says Thanasi Kokkinakis is fit and locked in to partner him for the men's doubles at the Australian Open.
Kokkinakis' hotly anticipated return to singles action was short-lived, withdrawing from the Open after being forced to pull out of the Adelaide International earlier this week.
It was his first match in nearly 12 months following pectoral surgery last February.
Kyrgios has also withdrawn from the men's singles at Melbourne Park due to fitness but says the 'Special Ks' are good enough for the doubles.
Their last success together at the Australian Open was in 2022 when they won the men's doubles tennis title.
