TRANSCRIPT
- Penny Wong pledges more funding for a maritime security pact with ASEAN countries.
- US Vice-president, Kamala Harris calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
- And in Rugby, Roosters star, Spencer Leniu, is charged with Contrary Conduct over alleged racial slur.
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong says that Pacific and Southeast Asian countries are facing serious defence threats as it set aside more funds for a maritime security pact with ASEAN countries.
During a summit with the Southeast Asian bloc Ms Wong said Australia will invest 64 million dollars over four years, including 40 million dollars in new funding.
She says the aim is to contribute to the security and prosperity of the region.
“Australia is working with ASEAN to increase resilience to coercion and to ensure waterways that serve us all remain open and accessible.”
The Philippines is stepping up its efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea, which has also become a point of tension between China and the US over naval operations.
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United States Vice President Kamala Harris has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to increase the flow of aid to ease what she calls "inhumane" conditions and a "humanitarian catastrophe" among the Palestinian people.
Ms Harris urges both the Israeli Government and Hamas to suspend hostilities for at least six weeks.
"This would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is secure, and to respect the right of the Palestinian people to dignity, freedom and self-determination."
The vice president's comments are among the sharpest yet made by a senior US government leader, calling on Israel to immediately ease conditions in Gaza.
It comes after the US airdrop of food aid into Gaza on Saturday, sparking criticism from Palestinians who called it inadequate as the US supplies Israel’s military.
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The ACT Government has paid Senator Linda Reynolds $90,000 in damages over claims by the former Director of Public Prosecutions that she interfered in a police investigation.
Senator Reynolds sued the government over claims in a letter penned by former DPP Shane Drumgold that she interfered in the Australian Federal Police investigation into alleged rape by Bruce Lehrmann.
The settlement includes a formal apology from the Territory and retraction of the allegations contained in the letter, a payment of $70,000 in damages, and an additional $20,000 in legal fees.
The trial against Bruce Lehrmann was abandoned due to juror misconduct.
Mr Lehrmann maintains his innocence, and there have been no findings against him.
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The chair of the Royal Commission into Veterans Suicide says the Australian Defence Force must accept its failures and act now to improve Veterans' lives.
In the final public hearings block of the royal commission, chair Nick Kaldas has urged military and government leaders to take on board their shortcomings to address issues that veterans' face.
Mr Kaldas says the government needs urgently address veterans' issues.
"Considering there's been at least 57 previous reviews and inquiries that have not succeeded in delivering impactful or sustained change, what is required for leaders across the veteran ecosystem is to accept the failures we have uncovered and to act now to address the issues affecting the health and well being of veterans and their families. There is no time to waste. No longer can these systemic issues be denied, dismissed, diminished or deflected by those in the halls of power and positions of leadership."
A final report by the commission will be handed down in early September.
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In the NRL, Roosters forward Spencer Leniu has been charged with Contrary Conduct by the league's judiciary over an alleged racial slur to Broncos playmaker Ezra Mam.
Mam filed a complaint to match officials after allegedly being called a "monkey" by Leniu in the NRL's opening round clash in Las Vegas.
A date for the hearing into the Contrary Conduct has not been set, with all four NRL teams who travelled to the US for the opening games of the 2024 season set to return to Australia today.
NRL players have shown their support for Mam on Instagram with Roosters fullback Latrell Mitchell demanding the NRL take action over the incident.
