Key Points
- Anthony Albanese criticises “hopeless” laws around current working with children checks
- Mike Huckabee says the move by Australia to recognise Palestinian statehood has disappointed US
- Lleyton Hewitt names Jordan Thompson captain for matches against Belgium in September
TRANSCRIPT
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is calling current working with children check laws hopeless as federal, state and territory attorneys-general meet in Sydney today, to discuss a long-overdue national scheme.
The push follows reports of abuse in childcare centres, including a Victorian case where a worker kept his clearance despite grooming allegations.
The reform was recommended by the 2017 royal commission but has stalled.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan welcomed the move.
“I welcome the announcements today by the federal government that they're finally going to move on introducing a national working with children's check regime. This is long overdue. It is welcome. It is long overdue because we know that we have with the workforce that moves between jurisdictions we need, we need to be able to track not just that movement, to track any issues that the systems in strengthening the systems, not just at a state level, but at a national level as well, and have that national coordination."
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The United States ambassador to Israel has hit out at Australia's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood, saying the Trump Administration is "disappointed" by the decision.
Mike Huckabee told ABC's 7:30 program the result there is an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust among US politicians, condemning Australia for not telling the U-S it would make the announcement.
This morning, however Federal MP Mark Butler told Channel 7, the US had been briefed ahead of the Prime Minister's announcement.
"There was a discussion between our Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Secretary of State Rubio, before the announcement of our decision. There is a read out from the State Department from that conversation. It wasn't just about the situation in Israel and Gaza."
Australia's decision follows similar moves by Canada, France and the UK.
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The New South Wales government is launching a $1 million plan to tackle anti-Muslim hate, including a victim support hotline, case management system, and police training to respond to Islamophobic incidents.
Premier Chris Minns says anecdotal evidence suggested Islamophobia was underreported, stressing that naked racism and Islamophobia have no place in our state or country.
The scheme, run by the Australian National Imams Council, will also provide support services for affected individuals and raise community awareness.
The announcement follows a major pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which police estimated drew 90,000 people, though organisers claimed 300,000.
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President Donald Trump has rejected claims that hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska amounts to a win for Moscow.
Mr Trump is scheduled to meet President Putin in Anchorage within hours, but says the follow-up talks with the Russian president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be more important.
“We have a meeting with President Putin tomorrow. I think it's going to be a good meeting, but the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we're having. We're going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelenskyy, myself, and maybe we'll bring some of the European leaders along. Maybe not. I don't know that. It's going to be very important. We're going to see what happens."
The US president says he believes Mr Putin is prepared to strike a deal.
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Israel’s far-right finance minister has announced work will begin on a long-delayed settlement in the West Bank that would cut the territory off from East Jerusalem, a move his office says will “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state.
Standing at the site in Maale Adumim, Bezalel Smotrich claims Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump had agreed to revive the so-called E1 project, though neither leader has confirmed this.
He says the plan is a direct response to international moves towards recognising Palestinian statehood.
“On this important day, I call from here on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: The time has come to fully apply Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, to forever remove from the table the idea of dividing the land. And to make sure that by September, Europe’s hypocrite leaders will simply have nothing to recognise.”
The Palestinian Authority, allied governments, and campaigners have condemned the decision as illegal and destructive to any peace plan, warning it fragments territory needed for a future state.
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Jordan Thompson will lead Australia’s bid to reach another Davis Cup finals week after being named in captain Lleyton Hewitt’s squad for the qualifying tie against Belgium in Sydney.
The 31-year-old returns from an injury-hit season to join Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin and potentially give Australia two top-20 players in the singles matches.
The two-day tie at Ken Rosewall Arena on the 13th and 14th of September will decide if Australia secures a place among the eight teams for November’s finals in Bologna.
