Israel's ambassador refuses to apologise for the death of Zomi Frankcom; The details of Victoria's Big Build Royal Commission finally unveiled; and in cricket; Cameron Green reveals the secret to his success
TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Israel's ambassador refuses to apologise for the death of Zomi Frankcom
- The details of Victoria's Big Build Royal Commission finally unveiled
- And in cricket, Cameron Green reveals the secret to his success
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has blasted Israel over the case of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom- but is drawing the line at expelling the country's ambassador.
Israeli soldiers involved in Ms Frankcom's death have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the Israeli military.
Ms Wong says that's insulting, and below the standards expected for a democracy.
She says Australia won't stop pursuing justice for Ms Frankcom and her family- but kicking out the Israeli ambassador to Australia, as some are suggesting, would be counterproductive.
"We don't maintain diplomatic relations as an endorsement of any particular country. We maintain those relationships because they enable us to engage to advance Australia's interests. Removing an ambassador would remove our ability to be able to engage, press for Australia's interests."
Ms Frankcom, of the World Central Kitchen aid agency, was killed in April 2024 when her convoy providing aid was fired upon by the Israeli military in the Gazan city of Khan Younis.
The Israeli military originally misidentified the convoy as a Hamas one.
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Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, says he cannot apologise to the family of the late Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has summoned Mr Newman to Parliament House in Canberra to express Australia's displeasure at the latest developments in the case.
Leaving Parliament House after the meeting with Ms Wong, Mr Newman says, although what happened was awful, saying sorry is a step too far.
"As a court has decided there is no criminal liability, I cannot accept liability on behalf of the state of Israel for the family. But I can express deep sorrow and grief, and we see it as a tragedy."
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The details of the Royal Commission into Victoria's construction sector have been unveiled.
A former Chief Justice of South Australia, Christopher Kourakis, will serve as Royal Commissioner.
The Royal Commission will have scope to look into the extent to which corruption, criminal misconduct, or serious misconduct has occurred on, or in relation to, and major public and civil infrastructure projects.
That includes by unions, construction companies, and others involved.
Victoria's so-called Big Build infrastructure project has been plagued by allegations of wrongdoing that were estimated to have cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll says he's confident he's given the Royal Commissioner everything he needs.
"If you go to these terms of references, you go through... the causes... the preconditions.... the role of the executive... the contextual changes... and the impacts. These are the broadest, most comprehensive, terms of reference available for any commissioner. This will get to the bottom of what occurred, and give Victorians the answers they deserve."
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Forty Tibetan-Australians are shaving their heads in Canberra to protest China's new so-called Ethnic Unity laws and honour fallen activist Lobga Rangzen.
Tibetan communities in Australia are calling on the government to condemn the new laws, which they say escalate foreign interference and aim to crush Tibetan culture.
The mass head shaving is a traditional sign of deep mourning and solidarity with Lobga Rangzen, who died after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations to protest the new laws.
Tibetan Community spokesperson Yangkyi Sangpo says that as a Tibetan Australian, she feels a responsibility to speak out for those who can't.
"It is my fear and it's Tibetans' fear that they will eventually have or lose their connection to Tibet, their culture, their language, and their identity. It is scary. It is very, very scary, and that's why I'm here in Canberra in front of the Parliament House, to ask Australia for help."
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Today marks the 40th year of Daffodil Day, celebrating the lives saved by cancer research and raising funds to support further research efforts.
In 1986, the first ever Daffodil Day, the five-year cancer survival rate was around 46 per cent.
This year, the Cancer Council says survival is now at 72 per cent, thanks to the support of community fundraising for cancer treatment research.
Speaking to SBS, Cancer Council New South Wales CEO Sarah Hosking says after raising $5 million in 2025, they're hoping to do even better this year.
"We're hoping to raise five and a half million dollars nationally this this year, and that money will go into research that will change the stats for cancer. That's the plan to have more prevention and to have more people surviving cancer and living well beyond their cancer diagnosis."
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In cricket, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green says the key to his recent success has been simplifying his batting.
Green, the only player aged under 30 in the Australian side, was one of the few shining lights in Australia's shock defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test match in Darwin, scoring a Test century for the first time in two and a half years.
Speaking in Mackay ahead of the second and final test against the Bangladeshis, which starts on Saturday, Green says the simplification of his game dates back to a Sheffield Shield game he played for Western Australia last year.
"I think I kind of just went back to how I used to play- just keeping it really simple. I think, over the last few years, tried to find something, tried to force it a bit. So, it was nice to go back to Shield cricket for a game last year, and just went back to what I used to do, and it felt really good, and I've just continued that on."
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