TRANSCRIPT
- Search and control police powers considered for a Sydney protest
- Forty per cent of Australian adults have cast their vote, ahead of referendum day
- Three AFLW clubs to play under traditional place names during this weekend's Indigenous Round
Members of Australia's Palestinian community says they want to retain the ability to peacefully demonstrate over what is happening in Gaza.
New South Wales Police is considering using so-called extraordinary powers to head off any trouble at a pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney this weekend.
Police urged people not to attend Sunday's rally in Hyde Park, which organisers moved from Town Hall and have promised will be a peaceful gathering.
Co-organiser Fahad Ali says Palestinians are seeing "a gruesome loss of life in Gaza" - and they want to gather and call for an end to the suffering.
"As we see these images, these messages from our friends, families and loved ones. We are grieving. We are grieving this war. We are grieving the atrocious loss of life; and the fact that the international community has not intervened to say enough is enough, to say we need a ceasefire...Palestinians have the right to peaceful assembly. And all those who support the cause of justice and peace - have the right to stand with us."
The extraordinary powers were initiated after 2005 Cronulla riots and include the ability to search protesters without reason; and arrest and charge people who refuse to identify themselves.
Acting Commissioner Dave Hudson says NSW Police want to prevent a repeat of the scenes at a pro-Palestinian rally outside the Sydney Opera House on Monday night when flares were thrown.
He says approval is still being sought to use the extraordinary powers, but police only intends to use them if necessary.
"Just because they (the extraordinary powers) are available to us does not mean they have to be used. And we will not be using the full extent of the powers, which can lock the city down. We don't intend to do that. We intend to search people that we believe are likely to protest - or have shown an interest in protesting based on the fact that weapons and flares...the experiences of Monday night. We will also be demanding that they provide us with their identity."
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The Australian Electoral Commission is urging all enrolled Australians who are yet to cast their referendum vote to do so.
It is compulsory for adults to vote.
Around 40 per cent of Australians have already cast their vote using the early vote options.
Polls will open from 8am tomorrow on referendum day.
In the Northern Territory, AEC senior engagement officer, Neville Khan, told NITV it has been a busy time rolling out the mobile voting options, including in the town camps.
He says with the hot temperatures forecast for tomorrow, he is advising people to look out for each other - including being respectful to polling staff.
"We would always encourage people in that circumstance to wear a hat, and obviously drink water. But if you're in the line and you see somebody struggling - just reach out and give other people a hand... Just respect the teams who are there working. It is a hard day. It's a long day of work. So people do get a little tired and grump and short at times. So it is just about being respectful to everybody at the time."
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New Zealand's political parties are making one final pitch ahead of election day.
Christoper Luxon's conservative National party is the favourite to take office following the vote tomorrow, completing Labour's significant decline in popularity in the last three years.
Polls have pointed to a National-led government for months, with little change during a gruelling six-week campaign.
Opposition leader Chrisopher Luxon says Chris Hipkin's Labour government has let cost of living pressures on families get out of hand.
"I'm in a position where I appreciate I don't feel the cost of living as much as everybody else but I talk to people who feel it and I've actually met with parents who are skipping meals because they can't afford food for their kids."
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In sport,
This weekend the AFLW will play it's first of two Indigenous Rounds, with Fremantle joining Melbourne and Port Adelaide in playing under traditional place names.
The Dockers will be known as Walyalup for the first time in the AFLW, alongside Naarm and Yartapuulti.
As is tradition, all teams will wear a special guernsey designed by First Nations artist Kayley Emery.
She says the Walyalup jumper takes inspiration from the land and strength of the local community.
"In our culture, there are meeting place symbols. Walyalup has such a strong sense of community here and they're very proud to be here. Everyone is really loyal to their community. So we really wanted to include that in the jersey and show that. For the team to be rebranded as Walyalup I think it is so important to everybody. That it is Indigenous all from the culture. The acknowlegdement, the 'we see you' aspect of it all is I think is really, really important."
