The Liberals say it's wrong for the Prime Minister to call Julian Assange to welcome him home, A study finds a third of refugee women have experienced a form of domestic violence, A sell-out crowd expected for the first ever Women's State of Origin decider.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The Liberals say it's wrong for the Prime Minister to call Julian Assange to welcome him home.
- A study finds a third of refugee women have experienced a form of domestic violence.
- A sell-out crowd expected for the first ever Women's State of Origin decider.
Liberal frontbencher Simon Birmingham says he's glad to see Julian Assange's legal saga end, but it was wrong for the Prime Minister to call Assange to welcome him home.
The Wikileaks founder arrived in Australia hours after pleading guilty to one espionage charge in a United States Court.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted a picture of him calling Julian Assange on X, saying he was "pleased to speak with Julian Assange to welcome him home to his family in Australia."
Senator Birmingham says that wasn't an appropriate thing to do.
"Julian Assange pleaded guilty in a United States court to charges under the US Espionage Act, and by nightfall he was welcomed home by the Australian Prime Minister. That just sends all of the wrong signals and is irresponsible and inappropriate of Anthony Albanese to welcome home Julian Assange on the same day he's pleaded guilty to US charges related to espionage."
Independent politicians will continue to fight for a climate change duty of care to be legislated by the Australian government.
The bill, introduced by David Pocock, would impose a duty of care on the government for decisions that impact climate change, allowing an avenue for legal challenges if decisions are breaching the duty.
A senate committee recommended not passing the bill, which Mr Pocock says goes against significant evidence given to the inquiry supporting the bill.
Senator Pocock says he will continue pushing for this to be legislated.
"One of the things that kept coming up at the Senate inquiry was people's disbelief at the fact that this isn't already legislated, and how in 2024 Is this a radical idea? So we'll keep pushing this. This is as I see it inevitable this will happen at some point ."
An increase in inflation to 4 per cent has put the government on the defensive as it seeks to assure Australian households Labor understands their pain.
The next move for interest rates is in doubt with the Reserve Bank of Australia aiming to produce a more acceptable number.
The wait for interest rate cuts is likely to be longer with economists now warning there's a chance of a rate hike at the next bank board meeting in August.
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Labor has the policy settings in place to ward off a rate rise.
"Inflation is down from what we inherited substantially. Annual real wages growth is back. Unemployment remains at near 50 year lows, and the gender pay gap is at a record low. My colleagues and I are very proud of this record, but we know there is more to do, especially when it comes to helping Australians with their cost of living."
A new study has found nearly a third of refugee women who have come to Australia in the last five years have experienced some form of abuse from their partners.
The University of Wollongong and Settlement Services International have evaluated culturally tailored domestic violence screening processes at five refugee settlement services.
It's the first of its kind in Australia, with nearly 355 women ranging from 18-years-old to 80-years-old originating from 24 countries, participating.
The project found screening at settlement services helped women speak up and get help.
An exhibition in Melbourne is promising to transport visitors back to the Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
The centrepiece is a 66 million year old Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil named Victoria, one of the biggest and most complete, ever discovered.
Victoria was first discovered in 2013 by a group of prospecters and citizen scientists, in the U-S state of South Dakota.
Museums Victoria Palaeontologist Tim Ziegler says they believe the dinosaur lived to be 28 years old.
"Until now, Tyrannosaurus Rex has been a poster on my childhood wall. So now, to stand and look in the eye of Victoria, of this beast, that's a lifetime achievement for any palaeontologist as well as every 5-year-old in the country."
In rugby league...
Another sell out crowd is expected for the first ever Women's State of Origin decider.
Queensland will have the home ground advantage, with the Sky Blues traveling to Townsville for the third game of the series.
It's the first time the women have had a three game series, playing just one State of Origin match each year until 2023 before it was increased to a two, then three, game series.
The previous match was won in the final minutes, with a one point field goal by the Maroons.
