The Opposition Leader calls for a referendum on powers to remove citizenship; Ukraine's President calls on Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire, when he speaks with Donald Trump today; And in sport, the Socceroos prepare for their World Cup qualifier.
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In this bulletin;
- The Opposition Leader calls for a referendum on powers to remove citizenship;
- Ukraine's President calls on Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire, when he speaks with Donald Trump today;
- And in sport, the Socceroos prepare for their World Cup qualifier.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says his party might hold a referendum on deporting dual nationals guilty of criminal offences, if the Coalition is elected to Federal Government.
The proposal would allow ministers to cancel the citizenship of individuals guilty of crimes such as terrorism.
It would form part of the Coalition’s plan to strengthen requirements for Australian citizenship.
A referendum is required, after the High Court ruled the ministerial power to remove citizenship is unconstitutional.
Speaking with Channel 7's Sunrise program, Mr Dutton said the move is in the interest of public safety.
"What we're proposing here is a discussion about whether we've got adequate laws, whether the Constitution is restrictive. Ultimately, what I want to do is keep the country safe and citizens safe. And I think there are a lot of Australians concerned with the rise of antisemitism and what we've seen in our country and elsewhere."
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Hours ahead of a planned call between the Russian and American presidents over a proposed Ukraine peace deal, fighting is escalating in Ukraine.
Russia is reporting its military has shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones over Kursk, while Ukraine says it is undertaking a planned defensive operation in the area.
Donald Trump is expected to raise the issue of Europe's largest nuclear plant, in a phone call with Vladimir Putin.
The Russian-occupied plant is in Ukraine and both sides accuse each other of putting the plant at risk with military action.
Mr Putin said last week he agreed with a ceasefire proposal, but warned he had "serious questions" for Mr Trump about how it would be enacted.
Ukraine's leader Volodymr Zelenskyy has agreed to the proposal, but says Russia must be pressured to do the same.
"For a week now, Putin has been unable to squeeze out ‘yes’ to the ceasefire proposal. He’s saying whatever he wants, but not what the whole world wants to hear. The unconditional ceasefire proposal is essentially about saving lives."
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The World Health Organisation is warning the international community that cuts to global health funding could come at the expense of millions of lives.
That's after the US Government announced the suspension of funding for foreign aid.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, is urging the Trump Administration to reconsider the move.
He says removing directing funding from the U-S Agency for International Development and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention could set the fight against diseases like HIV AIDS back 20 years.
The WHO is also warning that efforts to combat polio, malaria, and tuberculosis are in jeopardy.
"Almost 24 million people living in such crisis are at risk of not being able to access essential health services. More than 2,600 health facilities in 12 humanitarian crisis have already suspended services at least partially or will do very soon."
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In sport...
Midfielder Jackson Irvine says the Socceroos are pulling up well ahead of their must-win World Cup qualifying campaign.
The team is preparing to face Indonesia in Sydney on Thursday night and China in Hangzhou on Tuesday night in two must-win matches.
The Socceroos currently sit second in Asian qualifying Group C, behind leaders Japan, on seven points with four games left.
Ahead of the matches, coach Tony Popovic has called up six uncapped players and turning to two others who have not seen international action since 2022.
But Irvine says that it won't compromise their performance.
"Of course, when there's a change there's going to be a different energy. There's obviously a lot of new players, new faces. At the end of the day, the job remains the same and everybody is here to perform at their best, be at their best and bring their own contribution to the team. Obviously after a longer break since November, I think everyone has come back with a little more spring."
