TRANSCRIPT
- A Palestinian woman released from immigration detention in Sydney
- Tasmanians prepare to vote in the state's second election in two years
- Australian Moesha Johnson wins a second gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships
A Palestinian woman has been released after being detained in immigration detention for a week, following the cancellation of her bridging visa.
61-year-old Maha Almassri was taken by Australian Border Force officers during a dawn raid at her son's home in western Sydney - and taken to Villawood detention centre.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says the government will not comment on the decision by a federal assistant minister to cancel the visa after she failed a character test.
A family member has confirmed to SBS News, the release of Ms Almassri on Thursday night.
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Anthony Albanese has hailed his six-day trip in China as an important step in the two countries' relationship.
The diplomatic visit has resulted in the signing of trade deals and an agreement to promote Australia as a premier tourist destination for Chinese travellers.
It also included meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior officials in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.
In a statement, he says the trip has contributed to strengthening Australia's security and economic interests.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek says there are clear benefits that will follow from the trip.
"The Prime Minister has visited a tourism business. Chinese tourism to Australia is the largest source of tourism by value. It is worth more than $9 billion a year already. And so people should see the potential benefits of increasing Chinese tourism to Australia. The hundreds of millions or billions of dollar of extra spending that we will see in the Australian economy, as we see Chinese tourism increase."
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About one in four Tasmanians have already cast their vote ahead of an election predicted to return another hung parliament.
The election tomorrow is the state's second in two years - and was called after minority Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a parliamentary no-confidence motion in June.
He refused to step aside as leader, which led the governor to call an election because no workable government could be formed.
The Liberal Party has been in government for 11 years.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he believes the party still has the best plan to lead the state to a better future.
"Tamanians would appreciate how far we've come as a state. And I know full well that Tasmanians understand the importance of working together and having a stable government with stability, with certainty, with a clear plan, with a united plan - and the leadership to get on with the job. This is about growing our economy."
Labor leader Dean Winter says he thinks it is time for a change.
"I am really confident that Tasmanians are looking for a fresh start - and they are looking for change. It has been 11 years of the Liberals. They have driven 13 billion of net debt. They have left our Spirit of Tasmania on the wrong side of the world. And they even tried to sell the energy assets that we tried to build together for 100 years."
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The federal and South Australian governments are being urged to do more to respond to the algal bloom that is killing marine life in South Australia.
The state government on Tuesday said it was working with the federal government on ways to tackle the crisis, including establishing a reference group to bring together industries and stakeholders.
Greens spokesperson for the environment, Sarah Hanson-Young, says it should be declared a national emergency, and further action should be taken such as rescue package for the community; and increased environmental monitoring.
"How many more of these dead dolphins are gonna wash up on the beaches of Adelaide before the Prime Minister and Peter Malinauskas get together and sort this out. This has been going on for months. It is time to declare this environmental catastrophe, this community emergency, this jobs-wrecking algae a national emergency. We need a COVID-style rescue package."
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In swimming, Australia's Moesha Johnson says she is thrilled to win a second gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
Johnson won the 5-kilometre open-water event by just one second.
36 hours earlier she also won gold in the 10-kilometre open water event.
The 27-year-old from northern New South Wales now has three World Championship gold medals to her name.
