TRANSCRIPT
The U-K has confirmed they will send "a small number" of British troops to Israel as part of a US-led mission to monitor ceasefire efforts in Gaza.
UK's Defence Secretary John Healey says they will play an anchor role at the Civil Military Coordination Centre
The U-S has already sent about 200 troops to the Israel-based centre to prepare the logistics of getting aid into Gaza and the territory’s reconstruction.
Germany also says it’s sending a few members of its armed forces.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said although the United Nations played a pivotal role in facilitating the terms of U-S President Trump's 20-point peace plan, the organisation is in crisis.
Senator Wong, who gave a speech at a U-N conference [[UN AT 80: Shaping Our Future Together]] says the organisation was not an accidental setting for those big developments.
But Ms Wong says sadly there is little faith that the U-N system can meet the geostrategic circumstances that defines our times.
"The UN is in crisis, it faces a budget reduction of 30 per cent, exacerbating its ongoing liquidity crisis. And the U-N's image today is too often one is falling short, and there are many reasons for that. Confidence is being undermined across all three pillars of the charter, peace and security, development and human rights. In some the world is becoming less equal, more unstable and more dangerous."
Finance Minister Katy Gallaher has announced the government will be updating its threshold of government contracts to provide what she calls preferential procurement opportunities to Australian businesses.
The threshold for contracts to be forced to open tender will increase from $80,000 to $125,000, and up to $7.5 million for construction work, in a move to maximise businesses' opportunities.
"The government wants to engage with Australian businesses, with small and medium enterprises, we want to be a good purchaser across the ecosystem but also allow businesses to really promote what they have to provide to the commonwealth government to us with some changes through the supplier portal."
She says each year up until now the government has spent about $70 billion dollars from the Commonwealth coffers.
The federal government says the new US-Australia critical minerals deal will comply with Australia's environment laws.
Under the deal*, both nations will invest US$1 billion over the next six months to help accelerate the delivery of critical mineral projects, with a joint commitment to fast-track approvals.
In a statement to SBS, a spokesperson for Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has said all projects that could potentially impact matters of national significance are required to comply with national environment law.
Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shoebridge says there should be steps taken to ensure the environment laws are not bypassed in the move to fast-track approvals.
"These responses leave more questions than answers. There is a real concern that if the arbitrary US timeframes for development of critical minerals and rare earth projects are going to be met then the Albanese government may already be intending to abuse existing ‘national security’ loopholes that can bypass federal, state and territory environmental laws."
New data shows Australians experiencing homelessness are more likely to die from overdose, suicide or coronary heart disease, with potentially nine avoidable deaths every day.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found that around 43,200 people with a history of homelessness died between 2012 and 2013 alone from these types of causes.
The median age was 55 years, far lower than the Australian median life expectancy of 81.1 years for men and 85.1 years for women.
For women, gendered violence remains a leading cause of homelessness across Australia, impacting almost 67,000 people every year.
And if this story has raised issues for you or someone you know, you can get support from 1800 RESPECT at 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 13-11-14, Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 and beyondblue on 1300 22 4636
And in sport,
Minjee Lee and Hannah Green will lead as Australia's women's golf stars bid to win the prestigious International Crown teams' event for a first time.
With Lee, Green, and 2025 major winner Grace Kim, and Steph Kyriacou forming a formidable team, Australia are seeded fourth for the biennial match play event in South Korea.
Australia have been pitted against Pool A's "group of death", with the U-S, defending champions Thailand and eighth-seeded China to win two of their pool match-ups
