A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English... I'm Catriona Stirrat.
The federal opposition has called for more transparency from the government on its plans after the release of dozens of immigrants from indefinite detention.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has announced that 80 migrants have already been released from immigration detention after a high court decision last week found indefinite detention was unlawful.
The reversal of a two-decade-old decision was delivered in the case of Rohingya man from Myanmar who faced the prospect of detention for life because no country would resettle him, due to a criminal conviction for child sex abuse.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has said the government will act consistently with the court's orders but is also considering its response to the decision, including possible legislation, amid concerns about community safety.
The Opposition's immigration spokesman Dan Tehan has told Channel 7's Sunrise the government should have already legislated to prevent the release of migrants who may pose a risk to the community.
"They knew this High Court decision was coming. They should have had legislation into the parliament this week to deal with it. We need to hear from the Attorney-General, from the Immigration Minister as to what they're doing, and most importantly, when are we going to have legislation to address this."
—
Organisers of a pro-Palestine rally have encouraged Victorian students to stage a lunchtime walkout from school next week.
Premier Jacinta Allan has said she expects students to remain in class on November 23 but has not instructed schools to either approve leave or stop the rally from going ahead.
This comes as opinion appears to be divided on whether the war in the Middle East has made Australia a less safe place, with a resolve poll published in Nine newspapers finding 36 per cent believe Australia is less safe, 32 per cent disagreed and 32 per cent were unsure.
Ms Allan has defended the right of students to protest the conflict, saying she did not want to interfere with a "fundamental principle" of Australian democracy.
Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll says schools can decide whether or not they punish any students who choose to join the action.
"The expectation is that it is a normal school day, so attendance requirements are required. In relation to suspensions or any punishment that will be up to the school community."
—
New housing figures show Australia's rental market has worsened, with unaffordable housing spreading to regional locations and rental price hikes exceeding wage growth.
The Rental Affordability index has found rental affordability has dropped in every city except Canberra and Hobart over the last 12 months.
Regional Queensland is now the least affordable place in Australia when comparing income to rental prices.
Greens leader Adam Bandt says unlimited rent increases are a substantial part of the problem.
"People are at Breaking Point and Labor's rental crisis is getting worse. People can no longer afford to live near where they work, where they study or where their families are. And Labor is backing unlimited rent increases which is pushing people to the brink."
—
New research has found that young Australians overwhelmingly want the right to a healthy environment enshrined in law to keep pace with standards being set overseas.
The study from the Australian Conservation Foundation has found nine out of 10 people aged 13 to 24 want Australia to follow the more than 160 countries worldwide which have legislated the right.
Independent Senator David Pocock has a bill before the federal parliament that would require decision-makers to consider the health of children when making significant decisions, and to factor them in to coal and gas policy.
The Senator says legislating an environmental duty of care to children's health is "inevitable."
"This will happen. It's up to this Parliament whether we decide to have some leadership and make this happen now, or kick this can down the road and continue to not listen to young people and to not take them seriously. There is a shift happening. People are expecting more of their elected representatives and I think politicians ignore this at their peril."
That was SBS News in Easy English... I'm Catriona Stirrat.




