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TRANSCRIPT
- Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley says she is confident she will stay in the job amid fallout from the Coalition split
- European leaders hold emergency talks in Brussels to respond to Donald Trump's threats
- Australia names its Winter Olympics team, with a record number of female athletes
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says she is confident she will remain leader of the Liberals, after the Nationals called an end to the Coalition partnership for the second time in less than a year.
Nationals leader David Littleproud blamed Ms Ley for the split, declaring the Coalition arrangement cannot continue with Ms Ley as Liberals leader.
Three Nationals senators breached shadow cabinet solidarity in their vote against hate speech legislation that was expedited through parliament in a two-day sitting.
Mr Littleproud says Ms Ley should have given those senators more grace in recognising that the expedited timeframe did not allow for the regular joint partyroom processes, but says the senators had been clear in their concerns about the bill.
Ms Ley told Channel Nine, the Liberals are a united team.
"I am absolutely confident in the leadership that I have delivered, the leadership I will deliver and the strength of effort that my party and I are making every single day on behalf of the people. The millions of Australians who sent us to Canberra. But what is really going on here is the business of opposition. And it matters. And the government has made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes when we hold them to account."
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The Islamophobia Register Australia has condemned what it describes as a “deeply disturbing” hate letter sent to the Imam of Lakemba Mosque.
The letter contains explicit threats of violence and calls for murder targeting multiple communities.
The hletter was delivered by post on January 22nd.
It urges coordinated attacks on Australia Day, including intimidation, vandalism and kidnapping.
The Islamophobia Register says it has referred the letter to police and relevant authorities for investigation, warning it represents a credible threat to public safety.
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European leaders have emerged from emergency talks in Brussels that have lasted more than four hours.
They were meeting to decide on a co-ordinated response to the US president's threats against the continent, including imposing tariffs over his plan to acquire Greenland.
Donald Trump said he now no longer intends to impose the tariffs - and says the US won't be using force to acquire Greenland.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, says leaders reaffirmed the approach of de-escalation, while reinforcing the unity of EU leaders with Greenland and Denmark.
"It was very clear in the discussion that we were very successful in withstanding by being firm, but non-escalatory. And most importantly, very united. But there was also discussion on clarity with which we know that we have to work more and more for an independent Europe, economic power, and the security infrastructure that is necessary."
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One of the most prestigious prizes in Australian music is to be awarded tomorrow in the final weekend of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Musicians from around the country are in the New South Wales town, with buskers as usual taking centre stage.
Child performers Mickaela and Mick Curry - who call themselves 'the Curry Mob' - told NITV while they hope to secure some votes ahead of the awards, busking is about fun.
"Last year was what really kicked us off, because we were popular here last year busking because of the music. But really we just do it for the fun."
The annual event is famous for kickstarting the careers of country stars, including singer-songwriter Keith Urban, who started as a busker in Tamworth.
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To sport now,
Fifty-three Australians will represent the nation at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, with half the team making their Olympic debut.
The team is more than 62 per cent female - with more women than any previous national Olympic team - as well as five teenagers.
Twenty-seven members of Team Australia have never competed at an Olympics before - but they're not alone.
Allan Corona has learned cross country skiing as an adult- after moving from Mexico to Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Well, it has definitely been a difficult journey, but a very rewarding one. And I think those go hand in hand. If it were easy, it might not be as rewarding. I knew what I was getting into. I am happy to have chosen it, to have stayed firm in the most difficult moments, when we felt alone, far away, perhaps without a great structure like our competitors have."
