TRANSCRIPT
- Sam Mostyn addresses the Senate after being sworn in as governor general.
- Muslim leaders stand in support of Senator Fatima Payman after her suspension from the Labor caucus.
- And in sport, Australian golf star Cam Davis claims his second PGA tour win.
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Sam Mostyn has become Australia's 28th Governor General, taking over from David Hurley.
Known for her work as a lawyer, businesswoman, political advisor, AFL commissioner, she has become the second woman to represent the monarchy in Australia.
Last week, Parliament passed legislation to increase Ms Mostyn's salary to more than $700,000 a year for the five-year term.
Minister for Women Katy Gallagher says that's in line with her predecessors.
"Well, the Governor General is being paid what former governor generals have been paid. So it is a salary that reflects the importance of the position. But any suggestion that there has been a significant pay increase for the incoming Governor General is simply wrong. You know, former Governor Generals have had their salary set by legislation reflective of all of the income sources they have. And Sam Mostyn's salary reflects previous practice."
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Australian Muslim leaders including the heads of advocacy groups, mosques and community organisations have released an open letter in support of Senator Fatima Payman and criticised the decision by the Labor leadership to suspend her from the caucus indefinitely.
The letter says Labor's political calculations and failure to condemn Israel for its devastating assault on Gaza will ultimately end in political failure for the party.
They also called on the Australian government to “recognise Palestinian statehood and implement military sanctions on Israel immediately”.
It comes after the WA senator pledged to cross the floor again in support of Palestinian statehood, walking away from Labor expectations that members vote as a bloc.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has suspended her from the caucus altogether as a government spokesperson accused her of placing herself outside the privilege of the party.
Greens Senator Max Chandler-Mather says the federal government should be ashamed.
"It is utterly extraordinary and disgraceful that the Labor Party have suspended a young Muslim woman and first term senator, just for speaking up for Palestine. Right now. We have a Labor government that has taken more sanctions out against sad Fatima Payman than they have against Israel for carrying out a genocide in Gaza."
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Russian forces have attacked Ukraine's two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv.
A guided bomb has killed one person, a delivery service driver, in Kharkiv, and nine people have been injured, including an infant.
Missile fragments have fallen on an apartment building in Kyiv, starting a fire, and damaging balconies.
Kharkiv come under frequent attack since Russia's invasion of Ukraine started more than 28 months ago, although military analysts say these have become less frequent since the United States authorised the use of its weapons by Ukraine on certain Russian targets.
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Researchers have identified evidence of First Nations rituals dating back 500 generations, uncovering insights into the heritage of one of the world's oldest living cultures.
The findings have been made through a partnership between the GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation and Monash University.
The archaeological excavations revealed evidence of the ritual practices of the mulla-mullung, or Indigenous healers, which dates back to 12,000 years ago.
Elder Uncle Russell Mullett says the findings, which represent cultural knowledge passed down through 500 generations, are remarkable.
"It's very, very exciting, extraordinary. It's a time capsule that's preserved things so well. Everything that's come out of the small excavations that have been placed has produced information that's just opened the door to a broader understanding of the cultural use of place."
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And in sport,
Australian golf star Cam Davis has held his nerve to claim his second PGA Tour win with a dramatic one-shot victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.
An emotional Davis was reduced to tears after winning the tournament for the second time in three years with a final-round two-under-par 70.
The victory continues a roller-coaster season for the Sydneysider, who missed the US Open cut two weeks ago and hasn't finished higher than tied for 38th in seven events since sharing 12th at the Masters in April.
