TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong addresses Israeli review of their killing of an Australian aid worker;
- The Fair Work Commission applies to have branches of the construction union placed into administration;
- And in sport, Olympics organisers defend the food provided to athletes after numerous complaints.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for more accountability for Israel's targeted killing of Australian humanitarian worker Zomi Frankcom and six of her World Central Kitchen colleagues.
Her comments follow an Israeli military investigation into the incident which saw two officers removed and three reprimanded.
Ms Wong condemns the intentional attack on Ms Frankcom's humanitarian convoy as unacceptable and called Gaza the deadliest place on Earth to be an aid worker.
She acknowledged the actions made by the Israeli military already but says the Australian government will continue to advocate on behalf of Ms Frankcom's family.
"It is broadly in line with the approach that the ADF would take in conducting an investigation - two officers removed and three reprimanded. The military advocate general of Israel is still to decide on further action. However, Australia's expectation remains that this decision should be transparent. The Australian government will continue to press for full accountability including any appropriate criminal charges and we will continue to advocate the views of the Frankcom family and the Australian government to Israel. We do believe an apology should be provided."
The Foreign Minister also says Israeli military conduct needs to abide by international law as this incident is consistent with Israel's killing of over 250 aid workers since October 7, according to the UN.
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Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has announced the general manager of the Fair Work Commission has filed an application to the federal court of Australia to put several branches of the CFMEU into administration.
Mr Watt says the application seeks to establish a scheme of administration including the appointment of an administrator to the construction and general national division as well as the Victorian, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australian and Tasmanian branches.
The general manager alleges that these branches have ceased to function effectively.
Minister Watt claims this action, if successful, would be the strongest crackdown on an Australian union group by a government.
"This application, if successful, would vacate about 270 individuals from office, seize control over finances and assets and would control a majority vote in the relevant branches. This represents the strongest action available to the government and the strongest action ever taken by a government against an Australian union or employer group."
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Venezuela's Supreme Court has accepted President Nicolás Maduro's request to audit last Sunday's controversial election results amid claims of election fraud.
The country's electoral authorities declared President Maduro the winner, however Brazil, Colombia and Mexico demanded more transparency in the results and the United States has now recognised opposition candidate Edmundo González as the winner.
Mr Maduro's government has doubled down on repression of protests that erupted amid opposition allegations of electoral fraud and claims they have proof the president lost.
And now Venezuela's Supreme Court President says the court has accepted President Maduro's request to audit the election, requesting all presidential candidates to appear before the court.
"The investigation and verification process to certify in an unrestricted manner the results of the electoral process held on July 29, 2024, as requested by the constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, by means of the present contentious electoral appeal, is admitted and initiated."
The Supreme Court audit has drawn criticism from foreign observers who say the court is too close to the government to produce an independent review.
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In sport,
Paris Olympics organisers have defended the food quality and supply for athletes staying at the Olympic village.
It follows a number of complaints from multiple athletes that the available nutrition is inadequate in terms of quality and quantity.
This year, the Paris Olympics organising committee offered more vegetarian food to cut the average carbon emissions per meal in half compared to previous Olympics.
But the first few days in the village resulted in an increased demand for steak, eggs and larger serving sizes due to intense and gruelling competitions or training sessions.
The Paris Olympics organising committee says it worked with several Michelin-starred chefs alongside its food contractor French multinational Sodexo.
Paris 2024 Communications Director Anne Descamps claims the food quality should satisfy the athletes.
"We've heard a lot of comments. Most of them are very positive. You're right when we talk about food, there's also a question of taste. Not just to say that we've worked with the embassies for the amounts on the menu that are provided to the athletes. They were all shared with them previous to the games so that we make sure we can provide with them the right menus and food needed for their performances."
