Morning News Bulletin 21 December 2023

SBS NEWS OK AUDIO 16X9 DAY.png

Source: SBS News

Northern Territory Treasurer Eva Lawler to become Chief Minister; the European Union reaches a historic agreement on migration policy; and Socceroos star Massimo Luongo announces his retirement from international football.


Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.

TRANSCRIPT
  • Northern Territory Treasurer Eva Lawler to become Chief Minister.
  • The European Union reaches a historic agreement on migration policy.
  • Socceroos star Massimo Luongo announces his retirement from international football.
Former Northern Territory Treasurer Eva Lawler is set to replace Natasha Fyles as Chief Minister, based on several statements from Labor government members.

Ms Fyles submitted her resignation after it was revealed she maintained shares in a mining company in the area, citing an inexcusable conflict of interest.

The decision was reached unanimously after a meeting of the Labor caucus.

The European Council and the European Parliament have announced they have reached an agreement on their migration policy after almost three years of deliberations.

The negotiations, which carried on into the late evening, had to do with a number of complicated topics, such as the waiting period for migrants and the border patrol policies.

The agreement will now go to the European Union for the final approval.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has described the agreement as historic.

"And I am convinced that we can find a way that respects borders and that is fair and humane with those in need of protection, that is firm with those that are not eligible and that is strong against the traffickers who are exploiting the most vulnerable people on our planet."

Relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have expressed their concerns after seeing a video released by Hamas that shows three older Israeli hostages pleading for their immediate release.

The three men, in their late 70s and 80s, appear under duress and can be heard chanting: “Don’t abandon us in old age,” at the end of the video.

Chaim Peri, one of the hostages seen in the clip, says all three men have chronic illnesses and accuses Israel of abandoning them.

Ayala Metzger, the daughter-in-law of one of the three elderly men seen in the video, says she is very worried.

“I was very emotional when I saw him. The video made me worry about his condition. I see that he has lost a lot of weight, he is pale. I have a feeling that it is still the same Yoram, it didn’t break him. But I am very, very worried.”

Hamas says 20,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched a military campaign.

And the United Nations Security Council has again postponed a meeting to discuss calls for "urgent humanitarian pauses" in Gaza.

Floodwaters are bearing down on another Far North Queensland community.

One week after Tropical Cyclone Jasper hit the Queensland coast, the far north is still feeling the impact with the remote town of Kowanyama under threat.

Heavy rainfall is expected for the Cape York Peninsula in coming days as former cyclone Jasper lingers, with significant river level rises predicted for the 944-strong Kowanyama township.

An out-of-control bushfire in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region is putting the lives and properties of people at risk.

Emergency Services have issued warnings for parts of West Toodyay, Coondle and Julimar, around 100 kilometres northeast of Perth.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services says five members of the firefighting crew suffered minor injuries after their truck tipped over.

One of them, a male in his 40s, was taken to Northam Hospital to receive treatment.

The expenses of politicians during the first few months of the Albanese government have been revealed.

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used almost $700,000 in public funds between July and September of 2022.

Out of that, over $82,000 were spent on the Prime Minister's overseas travels, with Mr Albanese taking trips to Japan, Indonesia and Europe soon after winning the election.

Second on the high spender's list is Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke, who cost taxpayers close to $400,000.

In sport, 31-year-old Massimo Luongo has announced his retirement from international football.

Luongo, who began his career from local Sydney club APIA Leichhardt, was a member of the Australia national side that went on to win the 2015 Asian Cup, scoring the opener in the final against South Korea.

He was also a member of the Socceroos sides that participated in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups.

The Ipswich midfielder says he has chosen to retire in order to focus on club football.

Share

Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world