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TRANSCRIPT
- Survivors and families mark 30 years since the Port Arthur massacre
- Both sides of politics reject suggestions the AUKUS agreement may be in trouble
- St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says a dispute with some Indigenous players in his side is now settled
Survivors, families, and community members have gathered in Tasmania for a memorial service to mark the 30th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre.
A minute's silence was held at 1:30pm local time at the historic site - the moment the gunman entered the Broad Arrow cafe.
The gunman, Martin Bryant, is serving 35 life sentences in Hobart's Risdon Prison - one for each person killed on that day.
Survivor Jane Scholefield told the memorial service that the power of love is key to both remembering what happened, and moving on from it.
"At the heart of all this - of survival, of remembrance, of change, is something simple, but incredibly powerful... love. Love for those lost. Love for those who stood beside us. And love for the lives we continue to live. Because, in the end, love is stronger than hatred. It is stronger than fear. It is stronger than evil."
If you or someone you know needs support, call Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Embrace Multicultural Mental Health supports people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected suggestions the AUKUS defence agreement is in peril.
Under the AUKUS agreement, signed in 2021, the UK and the US will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, as well as basing some of their own nuclear-powered attack submarines in Australia on a rotational basis.
A British parliamentary committee has released a report saying the deal is threatened by dwindling political leadership and faltering investment, as well as doubts about the ability to comfortably meet the terms of the agreement.
But Mr Albanese says all parties to the agreement are still fully and properly committed to it.
"There is support overwhelmingly from the British government, from Prime Minister Keir Starmer down, as well as from the defence personnel in the United Kingdom. AUKUS is, to quote President Trump, full steam ahead. And I'm very confident that it will be so."
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The federal opposition says Donald Trump has damaged support for AUKUS and the Australia-US alliance - but that this shouldn't affect Australian policy.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, the Opposition's Defence spokesperson, James Paterson, has said the government and the military need to be more forthcoming with the public about the dangers Australia faces.
He says AUKUS is based on something geopolitically bigger, and more enduring than one US President.
"So there's no question that a US administration which is not constrained by convention, which is willing to do things that previous administrations would not, has an impact on public support for the alliance. And I think it is incumbent on political leaders to honestly accept that and recognise that, and not try to pretend otherwise. But I don't think it changes the fundamentals of the alliance. And they are based on our fundamental interests. And they are as aligned today as they ever have been, particularly in the Indo-Pacific."
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The federal government has unveiled proposed reforms to the News Media Bargaining Code.
Under the draft changes, big digital platforms like Google, TikTok, and Facebook will be encouraged to do deals with Australian news media organisations in exchange for providing news, and there will be financial penalties if they don't.
Communications Minister Anika Wells says the reformed code could also contain special provisions for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities, and those providing rural and regional news.
The Minister says it's important that those who produce news in Australia for Australians are adequately supported.
"Our proposal is that the distribution mechanism rewards news organisations who employ journalists. And therefore, if you employ more journalists, you will receive more funding under the distribution mechanism."
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In the AFL, St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says a matter involving him and Indigenous players at the club is now resolved.
The Seven Network has reported there was an incident at training where Lyon commented on three Indigenous players passing the ball to one another at the expense of other players in the team.
Two of those players, Bradley Hill and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, took offence at the comment, and a complaint led to Lyon offering to quit his post at one point.
Hill and Wanganeen-Milera have since posted in support of Lyon on social media, and Lyon has told the Nine Network he's grateful the players have forgiven him.
"Culture is really important. And behaviour is really important. And I made an error, unintentionally, resolved it with my players, and I'm thankful for their support."
