TRANSCRIPT
- 90,000 protesters march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
- The federal government has now committed more aid money to Gaza.
- And in sport, France's Pauline Ferrand-Prevot wins the Tour de France Femmes.
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New South Wales police are defending their decision to turn pro-Palestinian protesters around on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, citing serious safety concerns.
Police have estimated that 90,000 people joined the march, with demonstrators calling for action to help end what the United Nations calls worsening famine conditions in Gaza.
While the rally stayed peaceful, police directed marchers to turn around as they neared the end, in order to avoid a crowd crush.
Superintendent Adam Johnson has thanked protesters for heeding the instructions, saying he feared the worst if they continued.
"That was a very tense situation. We had more people than I had ever seen in a small, confined space. We had some tactical plans quickly in place in relation to how to manage it at the end point which was the northern section and we were really overwhelmed with numbers. So we had to make a decision, which was risky in itself, to stop people with messaging, make sure they had stopped then turn around and go back the way they came."
While the protest caused some disruptions to the transport system, Sydney trains said the rail network had coped well.
Thousands of demonstrators also protested in Melbourne amid a heavy police presence.
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The federal government has announced it is contributing a further $20 million to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza after a wave of protests across Australia.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong describes the humanitarian situation in Gaza as a catastrophe and says Israel must allow full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza.
Included in the new aid commitment is $11 million for United Nations agencies, with specific funding for children's nutrition, and $5 million for the Red Cross.
Senator Wong says an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a two-state solution is the only way Israeli and Palestinians can have enduring peace and security.
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Emergency services are searching for a woman who was swept from a vehicle in heavy rain in New South Wales.
The 26-year-old Chinese national was carried away near Cessnock after trying to escape a car after they drove into floodwaters.
In a separate incident, a man nearby was rescued found clinging to a tree.
While the severe weather is easing, parts of the midnorth coast and Hunter regions are being warned of moderate to major flooding on Monday, with some residents in Tamworth, Gunnedah and Manila told to evacuate on Sunday afternoon.
The State Emergency Service has responded to more than 1,500 incidents of damage and conducted more than a dozen flood rescues.
New South Wales SES Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan is begging people not to drive through flood waters.
"Please stay out of floodwaters. It is significantly dangerous. You do not know how deep the water is, how fast it is flowing or in fact what's underneath the water. So if you see something that's flooded, please do not drive into it. Turn around. Go back the way way you came."
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The federal government has appointed Adjunct Professor Sue-Anne Hunter as Australia’s first National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People.
Professor Hunter has been a frontline social worker and has more than 20 years’ experience in the family services sector.
She's been tasked with hearing from Indigenous children and young people in order to achieve meaningful change on social issues and help meet Closing the Gap targets.
Speaking to SBS from the Garma Festival, Professor Hunter said she wants to build on the work of previous commissions and enquiries.
"Most of his work isn't new. It just hasn't progressed. So how do we actually do, and progress - reduce the rate of children in care, reduce our children in youth detention. How do we get better health outcomes, better education outcomes, how do we keep kids connected to their family, their country, their culture."
The latest Closing the Gap report showed the rate of Indigenous children in out-of-home care is getting worse while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 27 times more likely to be in youth detention.
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In cycling, France's Pauline Ferrand-Prevot has won the Tour de France Femmes.
The 33-year-old is the first French winner of the race in this format, although compatriot Jeannie Longo had won a previous Tour de France Féminin.
Ferrand-Prevot took a commanding lead in stage eight, winning the stage and seizing the yellow jersey.
She says it's a dream come true.
"Yeah, I am so so happy. I was a bit too far back (earlier in the stage). I think I was just a bit scared you know with the pressure of the jersey, so the teammate had to ride, did a massive effort to bring me back to the front. Afterwards, I said 'okay, now I have to stick to the front and try to stay there'. And this morning I said the DS, I would like to win in yellow (jersey), so if you can make it, why not? So I attack in the last climb; and I could make it to the finish. And yeah, I'm so so happy."
Australian rider Sarah Gigante finished in sixth place on the general classification, after moving into second place the day before.
