The Coalition outlines its approach to Indigenous Affairs policy at the Garma Festival; The Australian government welcomes an agreement on the "complete disarmament" of Hamas; and in Tennis, Alex de Minaur defeats fellow Australian Cruz Hewitt to advance to the Washington Open quarterfinals.
TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin,
- The Coalition outlines its approach to Indigenous Affairs policy at the Garma Festival
- The Australian government welcomes an agreement on the "complete disarmament" of Hamas
- And in Tennis, Alex de Minaur defeats fellow Australian Cruz Hewitt to advance to the Washington Open quarterfinals
The Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Julian Leeser says the Coalition's policy on Indigenous Affairs will focus on education as the most effective long-term lever for improving Indigenous outcomes.
He made the announcement at the Garma Festival, Australia's largest Indigenous gathering held in remote northeast Arnhem Land (July 31 - Aug 3).
Mr Leeser, who resigned from the shadow cabinet under Peter Dutton over his support for the Voice referendum, was one of the few conservative politicians to back constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians.
Three years since the defeat of the 2023 Voice referendum, Mr Leeser says a new direction is needed in the Indigenous Affairs portfolio.
"School completion creates further opportunities. In Australia, sadly an Aboriginal boy is more likely to go to jail than to go to university - as has been said for many years. And as I have said before on graduation, an Indigenous graduate will earn at least on par with a non-Indigenous graduate. And after 10 years in the workforce, the incomes of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians are in effect level. To put it another way, the gap closes. Education, and in particular, school education is part of the secret sauce that drives success in Indigenous Affairs."
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Organisers of this year's 23rd annual Garma Festival say the four-day event is an opportunity to improve understanding of the leadership and culture of Aboriginal communities in remote northeast Arnhem Land.
International guests and federal politicians are among thousands gathering at the event, considered an important forum for Indigenous policy and cultural exchange.
This year's theme for the four-day festival is Bukmak, which means 'everyone'.
Youthu Yindi Foundation CEO Denise Bowden has told NITV Radio, that this year's theme is timely and significant.
"Garma is bringing everyone together being respectful of your identity - how you want to lead you life, and that you have choice. And it's coming out of the Northern Territory in a very tiny little pocket called northeast Arnhem - out of the way of the city. And it is a vitally integral part of our region. And from that you can see the enormous strengths of that community."
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The Donald Trump-led Board of Peace says it is turning its focus to implementing an agreement for what it calls the the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’s negotiating team, says the group has agreed to a plan to completely disarm in Gaza, but says the issue is tied to Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza; as well as the deployment of a national committee and reconstruction work in the territory.
It marks the first time ever that Hamas has said it would completely disarm.
Israel has yet to respond on the plan.
The Australian government says it welcomes moves to implement a Gaza peace plan, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong saying Australia will continue to do what it can to contribute to a just and enduring two-state solution.
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The number of confirmed cases of the deadly H5 variant of bird flu has increased to 33 in Australia.
A national meeting of agriculture and environment ministers today (31 July) has discussed Australia's response and preparedness.
The outbreak spans five states after the first case was confirmed in Victoria this week.
There are also a further 22 suspected cases - 21 of those are in South Australia, where officials have confirmed local transmission among the native bird population.
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says this week's activation of the National Management Agreement - to share costs for measures responding to bird flu in wildlife across Australia - is an important step.
"States and territories continue to undertake significant work on the ground in their jurisdictions to help manage the impact of the H5 bird flu, particularly surveillance and monitoring at the moment. This has been backed by a futher $24 million in funding from the Australian government - and the states and territories together. And this in addition to the $113 million that the federal government has provided in preparedness and response capability."
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A mother and daughter charged with slavery offences have been committed to stand trial, as their cases are fast-tracked to the Supreme Court.
54-year-old Kawsar Ahmad and her 31-year-old daughter Zeinab Ahmad have both entered their "not guilty" pleas.
Kawsar appeared via a video link from home, while Zeinab appeared remotely from the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
The women returned to Australia in May, with other family members of former IS group fighters, after years being held in a Syrian detention camp.
Judge Hannan formally committed the pair to stand trial in the higher court, with a directions hearing set down for August.
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In Tennis,
Alex de Minaur has cast aside sentiment to end 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt's breakout run and storm into the Washington Open quarterfinals.
The top seed and defending champion produced a clinical display to defeat the son of former world No.1 Lleyton in just 61 minutes: 6-2 6-3.
De Minaur says it was a surreal experience.
"I knew I was going to play him on the Tour someday, but I didn't actually expect to be this week. And it was an amazing feeling - even the leadup, seeing all the incredible pictures that we have together kind of grown up both of us. And yeah, I'm an ecstatic. I am glad that I managed to get through. I am sure we're going to have many, many battles in the years to come."
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