TRANSCRIPT
- One Nation senators criticised for turning backs during Acknowledgement of Country
- Repeat offenders targeted as government moves to toughen childcare safety laws
- In NRL, Toby Rudolf dismisses Souths’ injury woes ahead of Sharks clash.
A group of One Nation senators has drawn sharp criticism after turning their backs during an Acknowledgement of Country in the Senate chamber during the ceremonial opening of parliament.
The protest, led by Pauline Hanson's party, took place on Tuesday as the traditional statement of respect was read aloud, prompting outrage from across the political spectrum.
Cabinet Minister Clare O’Neil condemned the act, calling it disrespectful, rude and childish.
She tells Channel 7, the senators’ behaviour detracted from what should have been a moment of national unity.
"Whatever your views are on Welcome to Country, we've got First Nations people who have been invited to come to our Parliament to extend that hand of friendship and invite us, you know, and talk about that 65,000 years of heritage that they bring to our beautiful, great country of Australia, and to treat people that way, on the first day of Parliament, I think it was absolutely appalling."
Nationals senator Bridge McKenzie compared the One Nation silent protest, to politicians who walk out of the chamber during the morning prayers and those who don't support the monarchy.
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock is calling on the Albanese government to go beyond headline-grabbing announcements and embrace hard reform in the higher education sector.
While welcoming recent moves to support nursing students with paid placements, Mr Pocock says a broader range of students, particularly in areas facing workforce shortages, deserve the same support.
“Nurses should absolutely have paid pracs but so should a whole bunch of other professions where we are desperate for more workforce. We don't want to live in a country where you have to have wealthy parents to be able to get through a degree and qualify to practice. That needs to change. We need to see a government that is bold enough to expand their program of paid pracs."
The Senator also took aim at the Coalition-era Job-ready Graduates scheme that increased the cost of some degrees, calling it a failed program that should be scrapped.
He also criticised the timing of HECS-HELP indexation, calling it outrageous that Australians are being charged indexation, essentially interest, on money already repaid to the ATO.
Legislation aimed at improving safety in childcare centres has been introduced to parliament.
The Strengthening Regulation of Early Education Bill will give the federal government powers to shutdown childcare centres who are not meeting quality and safety standards.
It will also expand the powers of the federal education department, allowing regulators to enter childcare centres with no warrant or prior warning.
Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh says intervention is needed to improve the system.
"We want to rebuild the confidence that our early learning centers are safe and that they do provide quality early education. And of course, the vast majority of our early learning services do that every single day, but there are some repeat offenders who continue to put profit ahead of child safety, and that's what the legislation that we're introducing today is targeted to deal with."
Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, has died aged 76, his family has confirmed.
They say he was surrounded by love in his final moments and asked for privacy as they grieve.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019, Osbourne was a pioneering figure in heavy metal, known for his dark stage persona and wild antics.
Dubbed the Prince of Darkness, his influence on rock music was immense, helping to define a generation of heavier, darker sound.
Osbourne last appeared on stage three weeks ago in Birmingham in the U-K for a tribute Black Sabbath show.
The Osbourne family welcomed viewers into their home for four seasons in an M-TV reality show between 2002 and 2005 following Osbourne and his eccentric family at home in Beverly Hills.
Cronulla forward Toby Rudolf says he has not an ounce of sympathy for South Sydney as injuries derail the Rabbitohs' NRL season.
Twelve first-grade players, including Latrell Mitchell, Cam Murray and Jamie Humphreys, are sidelined ahead of Saturday’s match against the Sharks in Gosford.
Coach Wayne Bennett has been forced to hand Ashton Gray his debut and bring in Lewis Dodd, who’s seen little game time this year.
Rudolf pointed out Cronulla’s own injury woes, noting several key players, including himself, have played fewer than 10 games this season.
He also recalled the Sharks’ 2022 campaign, when they used 29 players, the same number Souths will have fielded after Gray’s debut.
