The Greens criticise emergency immigration detention laws; The US to impose travel bans on Israeli settlers involved in attacks in the West Bank; And in cricket, a three-way "bat off" for Australia's next Test opener put on hold in the Prime Minister's XI match.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The Greens criticise emergency immigration detention laws;
- The US to impose travel bans on Israeli settlers involved in attacks in the West Bank;
- And in cricket, a three-way "bat off" for Australia's next Test opener put on hold in the Prime Minister's XI match.
The Greens have described a new regime with bipartisan support allowing courts to send detainees released from immigration detention back to jail as a "race to the bottom".
Emergency legislation passed through the Senate on Tuesday evening, after three detainees, released after a High Court decision that indefinite detention is illegal, were charged with fresh offences, and is being debated in the Lower House today.
The federal opposition, which has supported the move to put in place a preventative detention regime usually reserved for terrorists and spies, has repeatedly said the government should have had legislation ready before the High Court's decision, which saw around 150 people released.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil has told Channel 7's Sunrise she will not resign over the issue.
"My job is to do everything I can to try to protect the community, and that is exactly what I'm doing. If it were up to me all of these people would never have been released from detention, if it were up to me and I had the power, every single one of these people would be back behind bars immediately."
But Greens Leader Adam Bandt has told the ABC the legislation is a "kneejerk reaction" which does not account for the many released who have not committed crimes.
"Instead of considering this significant decision of the High Court, where they've basically said you can't lock people up forever and treat that as a solution to migration problems, they've just let Peter Dutton write the laws."
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The US has announced it will impose travel bans on Israeli settlers involved in attacks in the West Bank.
The US State Department has said it will impose travel bans on settlers implicated in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, after the UN said it had recorded 314 attacks on Palestinian people and property in the occupied territory.
In a separate statement at a fundraising event in Boston, US President Joe Biden has echoed international calls for wider condemnation following accounts heard of sexual violence against women allegedly perpetrated by Hamas militants.
The statements come at sensitive moment in US-Israeli relations, amid an intensification of an Israeli ground offensive in Southern Gaza, with Hamas' Health Ministry announcing the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 16,000 people since the start of the conflict.
US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller says a travel ban on settlers, which will not apply to dual US-Israeli citizens, will address this escalating violence in the West Bank.
"The United States will pursue visa restrictions against any individuals involved in in or meaningfully contributing to the undermining of peace, security or stability in the West Bank. This includes acts of violence against persons or property, as well as undue restrictions on civilians, access to essential services and basic necessities."
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The Albanese government has struck a deal with the Greens on a bill which will see land owners paid to improve the environment on their property.
Under the proposed nature repair scheme, overseen by the Clean Energy Regulator, businesses and philanthropists would be able to invest in projects like removing invasive species, repairing damage to river beds or replanting habitats.
The Greens agreed to support the bill, which passed the Senate on Tuesday, in exchange for the government updating its water trigger for new gas developments, meaning all projects would need to be assessed for their impact on water resources.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says the bill will provide an opportunity for private investment in protecting nature in a way that "avoids greenwashing".
"There'll be science behind it, it'll be verified, tracked by the Australian government. We'll make sure that people are getting what they paid for when they invest to protect nature."
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In cricket,
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's coin toss has seen auditions to become Australia's next Test opener put temporarily on hold.
Pakistan's captain Shan Masood has elected to bat first after winning the toss in annual Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra today, postponing a three-way "bat-off" between Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw.
They're each a contender to take David Warner's spot once the veteran opener retires this summer.
Bancroft, who tops the Sheffield Shield run-scoring stats for this season after finishing as best batter last term, will open for the Prime Minister's side with Harris, who's played 14 Tests for Australia.
