TRANSCRIPT
- Australia, New Zealand and Canada urge Israel not to go ahead with Rafah ground invasion.
- The New South Wales government says hundreds of sites may be contaminated with asbestos.
- And in swimming, Australia's Sam Williamson wins gold in the swimming world championships.
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Australia, Canada and New Zealand are urging Israel not to invade Rafah in Gaza's south, saying it would be catastrophic for the 1.5 million Palestinians taking refuge there.
In a joint statement released today, the countries' three Prime Ministers say Israel must "listen to its friends" and follow international law by protecting civilians.
Israel has already begun deadly airstrikes on Rafah, killing at least 74 Palestinians on Monday, but is yet to launch its ground operation.
The statement calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the release of all hostages and unimpeded humanitarian relief for civilians in Gaza.
It also condemns Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 and says the group must lay down arms too for a successful ceasefire.
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The Albanese government has come under fire for its decision to suspend funding to the United Nations Palestinian relief agency.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has told a senate committee she wants to see funding for UNWRA resume "as soon as possible", but that allegations against it are serious and cannot be ignored.
Australia was one of several countries to suspend funding to the agency after Israel alleged 12 members of its 13,000 staff in Gaza participated in Hamas' October the 7th attacks.
Senator Wong says the suspension of funding affects an additional 6 million dollars announced in mid-January, but not 20 million in annual funding which has already been distributed for this financial year.
But Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi says the government needs to contribute more aid for the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
"$20 million was the funding that the government gave UNRWA in 2014. So (that was what it was) 10 years ago and you brought it back, so in real terms the funding is still less than what it used to be 10 years ago."
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The New South Wales premier has warned hundreds of sites are potentially contaminated with asbestos, as the government scrambles to identify the scale of the exposure.
Mulch laden with the hazardous material has already been detected in at least 22 sites, including a hospital, school, and multiple parks and infrastructure project sites.
Premier Chris Minns says the number of contaminated properties across Sydney is likely in the hundreds.
Contact-tracers working to find potential sites have had numbers boosted in a bid to speed up the process and reduce exposure to the public.
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A tropical low in the Gulf of Carpentaria has a moderate chance of developing into a cyclone as early as Thursday night, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.
A cyclone watch has been issued for Gulf coastal areas spanning from Port Roper in the Northern Territory to Burketown in Queensland's northwest.
Shenagh Gamble from the Bureau of Meteorology says the chance of this tropical low developing into a tropical cyclone has continued at a moderate level over the last 24 hours.
"(We're) still looking at a 40 to 45 per cent chance of this being a tropical cyclone. However, we do take precautions particularly for systems in the Gulf of Carpentaria because those conditions there are really favourable for system development. So if this system develops it could develop quite quickly and it could develop into a stronger cyclone, so it could potentially develop into a category 2."
The Bureau says parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria coast are likely to experience strong gale force winds and heavy rainfall, even without the system developing into a cyclone.
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And to sport...
Sam Williamson has roared to Australia's first swimming gold in the pool in Doha, clocking the fourth fastest time in history as he claimed the 50 metres breaststroke crown.
On their best night yet at the world swimming championships, Williamson's blistering triumph capped a four-medal haul for the Dolphins on Wednesday.
"You know 18 months ago I watched this race from the couch at home. I think last year at worlds (swimming championships) I was gutter ball in lane 8. So just to get a chance to race these guys - they're my heroes. So it's pretty special."
Elijah Winnington also captured an unexpected second silver of the championships in the 800 metre freestyle.
Brianna Throssell then earned the solo medal - a thoroughly deserved individual bronze for the 200 metres freestyle after 13 times on the podium in relay quartets.
