TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterates calls for a two-state solution in the Middle East;
- The Tasmanian Premier reaches an agreement to form government;
- And in AFL, Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson is suspended after making a homophobic slur.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated calls for a two-state solution in the Middle East, following comments from Foreign Minister Penny Wong suggesting the government could recognise Palestinian statehood.
Senator Wong says formal recognition could be the only way of ending the cycle of violence in the region as Israel's war against Hamas continues.
While no formal decision has been made within the federal government on Palestinian recognition, the prime minister says there has been no change on the stance of a two-state solution.
Ms Wong says no decision has yet been made.
"The discussion I want to have is to look at what is happening in the international community, where there is the very important debate about how it is we secure long lasting peace in a region which has known so much conflict. Obviously, we have the immediate conflict. We need to see Hamas release hostages. We need to see a revitalised Palestinian authority. We need to see an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. We need all of these things."
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Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he's reached an agreement with the Jacqui Lambie Network to form government.
Mr Rockliff says three new members of the Network have agreed to provide confidence to his government and support the government on parliamentary motions which bind it.
The deal reportedly includes an assessment of financial modelling behind a divisive stadium and an earlier youth detention centre shutdown.
The Liberals had been courting crossbench support after winning 14 of 35 lower-house seats at the March 23 poll - four short of a majority.
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Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie has accused the federal government of being weak at articulating the security threats we face.
Mr Hastie has cited breakouts of strategic disorder around the world which affect Australia - from the Red Sea to Israel and Gaza.
He says the Albanese government is weak at communicating our strategy to defeat those threats and weak at advocating for resources and capability which we will need in the years ahead.
"The analytical consensus is clear. We are facing a grave and deteriorating strategic situation, but disturbingly, there is a vast gap between the closed door, analytical consensus inside government and the public conversation that the Albanese government should be leading worse. Ministers of the crown use obscure and bureaucratic language when talking to the Australian people about our threats and challenges."
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Chief Executive of organisation The Parenthood Georgie Dent has reiterated the significance of having paid superannuation on Paid Parental Leave.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken to six families from the North Coast about the difference Paid Parental Leave makes for their lives.
From July 1, 2025 the federal government will pay superannuation on the government-funded Paid Parental Leave.
Mr Albanese says it's expected to benefit women long term in a significant way.
"This will make an enormous difference, not just in the immediate sense, but in giving women the confidence to know that they will have higher retirement incomes. So paying superannuation is an equity measure, but it's also good economic policy because what it will do is encourage the birth rate to increase. It will encourage the women to have the confidence that they are valued."
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And in AFL,
Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson has been given a three-game suspension after admitting to making a homophobic slur towards an unnamed Essendon player.
The AFL deemed Finlayson used an unprompted and highly offensive remark during the third quarter of the Power's 69-point win against the Bombers on Friday night.
As well as missing three games, Finlayson will be required to attend a Pride In Sport training program which he will have to pay for himself.
In determining the sanction, the AFL took into account the 28-year-old apologising and owning up to his mistake the following day.
