TRANSCRIPT
- Donald Trump says he believes Gaza ceasefire possible within a week...
- Victorian Opposition slams government for new delays to over-budget metro line...
- Queensland superstar Kalyn Ponga ruled out of the State of Origin series decider with a foot injury.
United States President Donald Trump says he believes it is possible that a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict will be reached within a week.
At an Oval Office event celebrating a Congo-Rwanda peace deal, Mr Trump has told reporters he believes a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is close, but has failed to provide additional detail.
"I think it's close. I just spoke with some of the people involved and we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire and we're supplying, as you know, a lot of money and a lot of food to that area because we have to. It's too bad other countries aren't helping out. Nobody's helping out, we're doing that because I think we have to on a humanitarian basis."
The United Nations says at least 410 Palestinians have been shot and killed while waiting for food aid to be delivered by a U-S and Israeli-approved organisation over the last month and Israel continues to block other efforts from the international community to deliver aid to the region.
The Victorian government is attempting to downplay reports of delays in construction and testing of the $15 billion Melbourne Metro Tunnel, with the train line now not set to open for regular commuter services until early 2026.
The Age reports the government is planning, what they call, a "soft opening" of the Metro in November of this year for limited off-peak services.The much-delayed and over-budget project was initially slated to be finished by September 2024, and the Allan government has reportedly offered the construction companies over a billion dollars if they could finish the project by this June.Victorian Opposition leader Brad Battin says the delay and increasing cost of the project is unacceptable.
"No one knows when it's going to open. No one knows which stations will open and no one knows how many trains will be able to go through during peak and off-peak times. How can a government spend billions of dollars and not have the plan ready and know exactly what time those stations will open and how often trains can operate. And the government won't come out and be honest on exactly how they've wasted that money. It's too important here in Victoria to understand, for every Victorian, where is our money going?"
The New South Wales government has defended a controversial bill aimed at reforming the state's workers compensation scheme, including changes making it more difficult to receive ongoing support for psychological injury.
Unions, academics and healthcare professionals have raised alarm about a proposal in the bill which will more than double the threshold for workers seeking ongoing support for a psychological injury beyond two-and-a-half years.
Unions New South Wales has told an inquiry into the bill that this increase would disqualify 95 per cent of workers with permanent psychological injuries.
The Coalition has agreed and have so far helped block the bill, with state Opposition leader Mark Speakman saying the change would punish the most severely injured workers.
Sophie Cotsis, New South Wales Minister for Work Health and Safety, says the government is investing close to $128 million in prevention efforts to avoid lasting injury.
"We will have an additional 51 safe work inspectors. This is historic. There will be 20 inspectors dedicated to psycho-social matters at work. This is a huge investment supporting early intervention, prevention, supporting workers and businesses."
The Greens have condemned what they've described as brutal and excessive police force shown towards former candidate for Grayndler, Hannah Thomas, who has now undergone surgery after an arrest at a pro-Palestine protest.
The 35-year-old lawyer and activist who ran against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in his Inner-West seat last month was photographed with a bruised and bloodied face after picketing a business reportedly supplying parts for jets used by the Israeli military.
She has now reportedly undergone surgery for serious facial injuries.
Greens MP Sue Higginson and Senator David Shoebridge have issued a statement calling for Police Minister Yasmin Catley to investigate the arrest as a critical incident.
Police say four others were arrested at the protest, including a 24-year-old man who they claim temporarily stole a police body worn camera.
In rugby league,
Kalyn Ponga is out of the State of Origin series decider, after scans confirmed the Queensland superstar has suffered a foot injury.
Newcastle has confirmed Ponga is set for a lengthy stint out, less than 12 hours after picking up the injury in the loss to Canberra.
The injury is a serious blow to the Maroons, given their game-two win in Perth had offered Billy Slater the prospect of keeping the team intact for the Sydney battle.
It will potentially open the door for Reece Walsh to return to the Queensland number-one jersey, after his own return to form for Brisbane.
The State of Origin decider kicks off on Wednesday, July 9 at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
