TRANSCRIPT:
- Community safety at the heart of a new ministerial order on visas;
- More revelations about expulsions at ANU amid pro-Palestine encampments;
- Millions offered to boost the next netball World Championships in Sydney.
New South Wales is being urged to follow up on its historic L-G-B-T-I-Q plus apology with more action.
A statement signed by 29 community organisations has been tabled in state parliament along with the apology.
The statement calls for MPs to resolve the "unfinished business" of our time.
The only openly gay member of the state's lower house, Alex Greenwich, says the government needs to do better by the community.
"My message to my colleagues today will be the same message as the LGBT community had 40 years ago. Get out of our bedrooms, get out of our pants, and let us live our lives. Forty years ago, New South Wales decriminalised homosexuality. Forty years later, we are still last in the nation when it comes to LGBTQ rights."
.
It has been revealed more than one student has been expelled from the Australian National University, amid ongoing pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus.
It was confirmed on Thursday that a female student had been thrown out of ANU for comments she gave during a radio interview on Hamas.
The university's vice chancellor, Genevieve Bell, has now told an estimates hearing that ten students have had disciplinary proceedings against them.
Two have been excluded from campus.
.
Australia's lack of meaningful action over the war in Gaza is being blamed for ongoing community tensions, including vandalism attacks and protests.
The Greens claim the government and coalition are attempting to detract from violence against civilians in Gaza by accusing the minor party of dangerously stoking the pro-Palestine movement.
They say attacks on MPs' offices, diplomatic posts and continued protests are the result of the government's failure to act.
Meanwhile independent MPs like Zoe Daniel have called for calm, arguing that the tensions in parliament are a "microcosm of what is happening in the community".
Sophie Scamps has told SBS News that a few MPs have received deaths threats in the wake of events in Parliament this week.
"What is happening in the Middle East is horrific. What happened on October 7 was absolutely horrific... Of course emotions are running really really high. But it's on each of us, as parliamentarians to have that debate to put forward views in a constructive way."
.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has signed a new direction that will require a tribunal to prioritise public safety when they're reviewing visa cancellation decisions.
The new advice, known as Ministerial Direction 110, comes into effect in two weeks time for such cases in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
The Minister says the government has listened to the community's concerns.
"This direction is clearer. We are elevating community safety as a key principle. We are also, as I've said, putting in place a higher level of consideration on the impact of victims and their families. These are clear - crystal clear - directions to decision makers about the expectations that I have, that the Australian government has, and the Australian community has, about non-citizens."
.
Residents in eastern Australia have been urged to keep a close eye on the conditions, following some parts of New South Wales receiving nearly double their usual monthly rainfall.
The State Emergency Service has been kept busy in the wild weather, carrying out almost 50 rescues so far and hundreds more callouts.
Aaron von Bruck says the water in the Nepean River is fast moving and they have to be ready for anything.
"It just goes to show how quick and unpredictable floodwater can be. When we've had as much rain as we've been having, as much as water is in this catchment area all has to come to one area. This is how quickly rivers can rise on us."
.
A team of medical researchers have found a way to identify dementia up to nine years before an official diagnosis is made.
The team - that includes Melbourne's Monash University - have developed a test they say can predict dementia with over 80 per cent accuracy when the disease is in its early stages.
Co-author, Associate Professor Adeel Razi, says the test could pave the way for proactive and personalised healthcare strategies.
He says previous attempts at curing Alzheimer's have failed because clinical trials have often focused on advanced stages of the disease, where the damage to brain cells is irreversible.
.
Briefly in international news,
- Israel claims it only conducted an air strike on a UN-run school building in Gaza once they determined there were no women or children inside;
- Trump ally Steve Bannon reports to prison in the US.
He'll serve four months for defying a subpoena from a house committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack;
And South Africa will be ruled by a national unity government.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed now the ANC is without a majority it's invited other parties to make up the numbers.
.
Australia will defend its number one status at the next Netball World Cup in Sydney on the back of a $6 million funding boost from the federal government.
Sports Minister Anika Wells says the funding package is a show of commitment to the 2027 tournament and women's sport in general.
