Australian MPs have questions over Israel's decision not to formally investigate Zomi Frankcom's death; A passionate appeal to the Government, not to cap veterans' healthcare plans, and in football, More FIFA officials and federations pull support for president Gianni Infantino
TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Australian MPs have questions over Israel's decision not to formally investigate Zomi Frankcom's death
- A passionate appeal to the Government, not to cap veterans' healthcare plans
- And in football, More FIFA officials and federations pull support for president Gianni Infantino
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says an Israeli government decision not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for killing Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues in Gaza falls "far short of the accountability" expected.
Ms Wong says she'll call in Israel's ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman to convey the Government's views directly to Israel.
The Israeli defence force says serious failures led soldiers to falsely identify a Hamas fighter travelling among the convoy.
The news broke shortly after Senator Wong announced the Zomi Frankcom Humanitarian Award in the aid workers' honour.
Federal MP Allegra Spender was at the announcement and says a lot of people are disappointed in the Israeli government's decision.
"Her brother spoke about her humanity, her gift and how she just wanted to help people in need so I think a lot of people are really disappointed, I have to go through the detail to be honest to understand what are the options here and what are the options here really now in terms of accountability, because obviously this was a hit on a humanitarian vehicle, it seems like it was a mistake but it was a hit on a humanitarian vehicle so I'm just getting into understanding what this means now."
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Coalition backbencher Anne Webster says Israel is an independent country and needs to be free to follow its own procedures.
Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson says he is seeking a briefing to understand the decision.
"Zomi Frankcom never should have been killed. It's a tragedy that she was and it is incredibly concerning to hear this news out of Israel. I'll look forward to receiving a full briefing to understand why this decision was made and the nature of the decision. I've only just seen initial reports very recently so I'll keep my comments to that."
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Germany, France and the United Nations have condemned remarks made by Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir regarding the targeted killing of Palestinians in Gaza.
Speaking on a podcast published over the weekend, Mr Ben-Gvir called for "30 to 40" people to be killed per night in targeted assassinations in the Gaza Strip.
The UN human rights office says the comments advocate and incite violence amounting to atrocity crimes.
Spokesperson of the German government Sebastian Hille says Mr Ben-Gvir's remarks are entirely unacceptable.
"The Chancellor strongly condemns the inhumane and illegal appeals under international law by Minister Ben Gvir. They are unacceptable. The last European Council made a directional decision to prepare targeted measures against radical politicians who call for violations of human dignity and international law. This issue will be addressed by the foreign ministers at the upcoming Gymnich meeting in a few days."
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Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has broken down in parliament, begging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese not to move forward with a plan to impose a $5,000 cap on allied healthcare for veterans.
Shadow Defence Minister James Patterson says the cap, which is scheduled to come into effect mid next year (July 2027), is a betrayal.
Senator Lambie served in the Australian Defence Force before entering politics, and gave an emotional account of her own experience in seeking gynaecological care.
"If I was like the majority of female veterans, I would have had to wait for DVA to approve my claim. Then I would have to search and hope and hope like hell that there would be a gynaecologist who would accept the low rate that was paid by the department of veterans' affairs. That's how much they care about our vaginas."
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And in sport,
More football federations and FIFA officials have withdrawn their support for the governing body's president Gianni Infantino, over a since-abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
In a letter to Infantino, FIFA's Europe vice president Sandor Csanyi says the dismissal of chief operating officer Kevin Lamour was the final straw.
Mr Lamour earlier said staff had been deceived, and the plan was the project of one person.
Other football officials who have attacked Mr Infantino's conduct in recent months include the president of football's governing bodies in Europe, as well as North America, Central America and the Caribbean, and the head of the Asian Football Confederation.
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