Labor welcomes comments from One Nation about immigration; wildfires hit Serbia and Spain; Sydney’s AFLW side takes on Essendon at the SCG.
Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
- Labor welcomes comments from One Nation about immigration
- Wildfires hit Serbia and Spain
- Sydney’s AFLW side takes on Essendon at the SCG
One Nation MP David Farley says the party will include 100,000 more people in its migration targets in what he calls a "true" net overseas migration figure.
Mr Farley says his party has decided to separate the net overseas migration figure into what he calls a "true NOM" which didn't include other migration in their total.
The MP says One Nation's policy of getting net overseas migration down to 130,000 from the budget forecast of 225,000 in the following four years, excluded people under a Pacific scheme, aged-care nurses and other in-demand skilled workers.
This total would mark an additional 100,000 arrivals, and an increase of 5000 people from the budget forecast, leaving it closer to targets set by Labor and the coalition.
Federal Labor Minister Chris Bowen says he welcomes the comments made by Mr Farley.
"The numbers he was talking about are very similar to the numbers the government's been working towards. You know, our target is 225,000. That's our projection. When you add up what he was saying this morning, he basically gets to the same number. So I'm not sure what One Nation is saying about, immigration, because it appears to me, based on what Mr. Farley said, that One Nation now agrees with the approach of the government. And obviously, I'd welcome that."
--
Australia has recorded its first case of bird flu in a mammal, as the impact of the deadly virus continues to spread.
Authorities have confirmed a long-nosed fur seal at Beachport in South Australia tested positive for the H5 bird flu.
There have so far been no cases detected in an agricultural setting and the health risk to humans remains low.
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said while the development was distressing, it was not unexpected.
"An infection of this individual animal is likely to have occurred due to exposure to infected wild birds or the environment that they share. Sadly, we also know that once the H5 bird flu is spreading in the natural environment, it is not possible to avoid significant losses. That's why our government has worked so hard to prepare for H5 bird flu coming to Australia and why we are acting. As I've said numerous times, we have delivered over 130,000 dollars to bolster our preparedness and our response capability for the H5 bird flu."
---
The European Union has sent helicopters and firefighters to Serbia to help tackle widespread wildfires in the northeast of the country.
Serbia is not a member of the EU but has access to emergency EU help under its Civil Protection Mechanism.
Meanwhile, in eastern Spain, around 1000 people have been evacuated due to a forest fire.
The European Commission's Forest Fire Information System says more than 297,000 hectares have already been burnt in 425 forest fires in Spain this year.
--
Locals have gathered in Kalkarindji in the Northern Territory this weekend to celebrate the Freedom Day Festival, marking the 60th anniversary of the Wave Hill walk-off.
In 1966, around 200 Indigenous workers at the Wave Hill cattle station took a stand against discrimination and poor working conditions and walked off the job in protest.
Leading to legislative change, the walk-off sparked the NT's Aboriginal Land Rights Act in 1976.
SBS Northern Territory Correspondent Josh Van Staden is at the festival.
"This weekend's celebration started with a recreation. Hundreds of people marched through Kalkarindji and turned off down to the Victoria Riverbed, following a similar route to where Gurindji elder Vincent Lingiari led his fellow stockmen and their families off Wave Hill Station 60 years ago. The Gurindji people waited 9 years after that walk-off until the government recognised Aboriginal land ownership, a moment in 1975 etched in the minds of many when Gough Whitlam poured sand of Vincent Lingiari's country back into his palm."
---
Sydney Swans fans have gathered at the Sydney Cricket Ground to show their support for the women's team as the men's side faces a major scandal.
Sydney’s AFLW side is taking on Essendon at the SCG before the men’s side closes out its regular season against North Melbourne.
The scandal, which has seen five players stood down for breaching club standards and involves allegations of sexual assault, has raised alarm over the treatment of women at the club.
Despite the players being stood down for the season, some fans say they won't be watching the men's game.
“So my original plan actually was to watch the men's game. I've made plans with my friend to for me to fly here and do that, but then news broke on Monday, which was really incredibly awful, and we kind of switched our plans around, and now we're just watching the women's game, and we're going to exit the SCG before the men's start. Yeah, hopefully with a lot of other people."
