TRANSCRIPT:
- New Caledonia to remain in a state of emergency for the next fortnight;
- The opposition preparing for its Budget reply speech tonight;
- Former St Kilda star Sam Fisher jailed on drugs charges.
The Senate has issued a rebuke to a Labor senator who broke ranks with her party and branded Israel's actions in Gaza a "genocide" before using a controversial pro-Palestine phrase.
The motion passed with the support of the government but was opposed by the Greens.
It was moved by opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham, who called for senators to avoid what he described as "inflammatory and divisive comments".
The Senator says actions in Australia have fuelled hatred and spurred an "horrific rise" in anti-Semitism.
"The slogan from the river to the sea Palestine will be free, opposes Israel's right to exist, and is frequently used by those who seek to intimidate Jewish Australians by acts of anti-Semitism. This motion also welcomes Prime Minister Albanese agreeing with comments from former department defence department secretary Dennis Richardson calling the slogan quote 'a very violent statement, which could easily flow into actions of violence against communities in our country.'"
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Links between the housing crisis and growing immigration are expected to be spelled out by the opposition in its Budget reply speech tonight, despite concerns over racism and the demonisation of immigrants.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is expected to argue that the Australian dream is at risk unless the federal government can align population growth with housing supply.
Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather has said it sounded as if the Opposition leader was blaming the housing crisis on migrants.
But opposition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor says these are important issues.
"We are not seeing alignment between population growth in this country and our housing supply, and the victims of that is every Australian; those trying to rent home, those trying to buy a home.... So making sure we have housing supply and immigration aligned is something you're going to hear about tonight."
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New Caledonia will remain in a state of emergency for the next 12 days in the wake of deadly riots triggered by voting changes for long-term French residents in the French-ruled territory.
Main and secondary roads in Noumea are understood to be blocked by barricades with burning cars and car carcasses, some with booby traps with gas bottles and ignition systems.
French government spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot says reinforcements are being sent to the island to help restore order.
"As it stands, there are already nearly 1,800 law enforcement officers mobilised on site in New Caledonia- 500 will come and reinforce. They are already on their way to join these forces. The army - already on site - is not maintaining order. On the other hand, the armies are mobilising to facilitate the transport of our law enforcement forces."
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A Sydney councillor responsible for banning a same sex parenting book has maintained the community wanted the book gone, following the overturning of the ban in a new fiery council meeting.
Steve Christou says all members of the community deserve to have their voices heard.
"Another group had their voiced silenced. They started a petition on a similar platform saying 'uphold the ban'. And their petition was properly taken down and their voices and signatures silenced. How is this fairness in our community? We want to talk about fairness and respect and loving everybody's views. Well, how's listening to one side of the community's views respect but silencing another side of the community's views respectful?"
Cumberland Mayor Lisa Lake has apologised for the hurt caused by the debate, and says she is hopeful everyone can now move forward.
She says the debate about the ban was "very divisive and unnecessary", given the book had been in their libraries for five years with no complaints.
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Australia is on track to introduce a fuel efficiency standard for new cars sold for the first time.
Legislation is headed to the Senate to require vehicle manufacturers from 2025 to reach a fuel efficiency target across their fleets, balancing sales of high emission vehicles against low or zero-emissions vehicles.
Labor has secured support from the Greens in the Senate for its approval - but to pass the bill, it will still need additional crossbench backing.
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On a lighter note, musicians playing for the Darwin Symphony Orchestra in Australia's Top End will be paid for the first time after a million dollar boost to the budget.
Four principal string players are already paid an award wage for rehearsals and concerts, an income of about $20,000 a year, but other principals, such as flute and oboe players, are essentially volunteers and have never received an income.
Artistic director Jonathan Tooby says the orchestra would now be able to attract talent from the rest of Australia.
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A former AFL star has been jailed after a downward spiral into drug addiction led him to become involved in an interstate trafficking scheme.
Former St Kilda player Sam Fisher has been handed a maximum prison term of five years and four months on charges that he helped to smuggle methamphetamine and cocaine from Melbourne to Western Australia.
