TRANSCRIPT
- The Prime Minister says he's prepared to work with Donald Trump if necessary
- Families of hostages held by Hamas demand the government secure a deal to release those still held captive
- Socceroos striker Mitch Duke sidelined with an injury ahead of an Asian Cup match against Uzbekistan
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to the possibility of a second Donald Trump presidential term in the United States saying he's prepared to work with any leader of Australia's close ally.
This follows news Florida governor Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination with the latest local poll showing Mr Trump is leading by 11 percentage points in the next primary race in New Hampshire.
While the former president's legal troubles are only beginning, he appears likely to secure the nomination and face-off against President Joe Biden in the November elections.
Meanwhile, President Biden's approval rating across all Americans has sunk to an all-time low of 33 per cent in the new poll, lower than Donald Trump's low-point of 36 per cent.
Mr Albanese told Sky News that the Australia-U-S relationship is not about the individuals in charge of each country but about shared values.
ALBANESE: "I have a good relationship, obviously with President Biden. But we respect those democratic processes in the United States. We'll deal with whatever the outcome is."
SKY: "Could you work with Donald Trump?
ALBANESE: "We will work with whatever the outcome is because the relationship between Australia and the United States is not just a relationship between individuals or leaders. It's a relationship between our peoples, and it's based upon the democratic values that we share."
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Families of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip are protesting outside the Israeli Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem demanding a deal be done to secure the immediate release of hostages.
The father of Hersh Goldberg Polin, who was kidnapped and documented in a video with his hand amputated, says that Benjamin Netanyahu's government has failed the Israeli people.
This comes after Mr Netanyahu rejected demands from Hamas to withdraw the Israeli military from Gaza in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages.
The militants say they will not release anyone until this condition has been met, but the Israeli military believes they can secure hostages by continuing their military bombardment which has killed over 25,000 Palestinians according to local health authorities.
John Polin says the failure of the Israeli government to protect citizens on October 7 must be remedied with an urgent deal to release hostages such as his son.
"On the morning of October 7th, this government and this prime minister totally failed us. After 107 days, we are demanding that they fix the failure from the seventh and that can only start with returning all of the hostages alive, bringing home 136 hostages and bags can never be considered any part of a victory. We demand that the government do its part, bring a deal, get the deal done and bring home the remaining hostages alive."
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Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has responded to the shock announcement that the state opposition would withdraw support for a treaty with the Indigenous community saying they never expressed any concerns to her government prior.
Ms Allan says she believes the decision was made as early as October, accusing the Victorian opposition of withholding their position on treaty negotiations for months.
Victoria Nationals leader, Peter Walsh, made the announcement on Sky News last night that the coalition had held an internal meeting and decided to drop its support.
Premier Allan says the move is a complete U-turn, accusing the coalition of misleading Victoria's Indigenous peoples.
"The announcement from the Liberal party under John Pesutto's leadership is a complete U-turn that's not been discussed with the government and has certainly not been discussed with the Indigenous community who are now left to pick up the pieces."
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The Socceroos will be without striker Mitch Duke for their Asian Cup match against Uzbekistan tomorrow night and potentially deeper in the tournament due to a hamstring injury.
Bruno Fornaroli looms as the man charged with leading the line in place of 33-year-old Duke for tomorrow's match, when Australia can seal the top spot in group B with a win or draw.
Coach Graham Arnold confirmed Duke, who started every game at the World Cup in 2022 had suffered the injury during the win over Syria.
Australia will play their last-16 match on January 28 if they top the group and January 30 if they finish second.
