The government's tax changes pass the House of Representatives, but face a challenge in the Senate; Australian Sumud Flotilla members call for further action against Israel; And in sport, Socceroos defender Lucas Herrington boosted by his coach's public vote of confidence ahead of the World Cup.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The government's tax changes pass the House of Representatives, but face a challenge in the Senate
- Australian Sumud Flotilla members call for further action against Israel.
- And in sport, Socceroos defender Lucas Herrington boosted by his coach's public vote of confidence ahead of the World Cup.
The federal government's tax changes have passed the House of Representatives- but the coalition isn't ruling out an unlikely alliance with the Greens to stop the changes getting through the senate and becoming law.
The more contentious of the changes will limit negative gearing on new homes, starting in July 2027, and scrap the 50 per cent discount on capital gains tax.
The government needs the support of the Greens to get the legislation through the Senate.
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says he'll work with anyone to stop what he calls toxic taxes.
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the coalition's opposition to the government's entire suite of changes shows how out of touch they are.
"Today, of course, they voted against the legislated five rounds of income tax cuts that we have put forward. No wonder they've brought Tony Abbott back to run the Liberal party. A bloke who was dumped by his own party, the dumped by his own electorate, and they've made him party president. At least when they resurrected the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, they chose a species that had been successful."
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Australian members of the Global Sumud Flotilla are calling for further sanctions against Israel, claiming grave mistreatment at the hands of Israeli authorities.
The flotilla aimed to deliver aid to Palestinians, but was intercepted by Israeli forces, and its members taken into custody, before eventually being deported.
The Greens have hosted several flotilla members at Parliament House in Canberra.
They are calling for recordings of their mistreatment to be made public- and claim Israeli forces told them that they treat Palestinian prisoners even worse.
One of the flotilla members, Melbourne woman Neve O'Connor, says the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have questions to answer over the matter.
"From the moment of interception, to being on the prison boats, in the immigration yard, and even in the Israeli airport, we were physically beaten, assaulted, and sexually violated. They beat us until we screamed and we cried and we begged for help. It is these perpetrators, and the political affiliates, such as Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese, who need to be scrutinised."
Israel's prison service has denied the abuse allegations.
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The latest U-S tariff plans are drawing condemnation from across the Australian political spectrum.
Australia is one of 60 countries whose exports to the U-S would be affected by a new 12.5 per cent levy- up from 10 per cent- starting from the 24th of July.
The U-S has published a report saying these tariffs are in response to countries not doing enough to combat forced labour.
But federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Australia has some of the strongest laws in the world to combat modern slavery.
And opposition Trade spokesman Matt Canavan says the report has just two lines in it about Australia.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says he'll support the government on the issue.
"They're wrong. There shouldn't be tariffs like these imposed on Australia. And the United States shouldn't do it. They are a great friend. And they shouldn't do it, we fought them in every war, every major war."
Beef and gold from Australia will retain their exemption from the tariffs.
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The federal Department of Social Services says applicants in a national scheme aimed to restoring justice for sexual abuse survivors are having their claims processed by Artificial Intelligence.
The department's secretary, Michael Lye, has told a senate committee A-I is bag used to help make faster decisions.
It comes after the Australian National Audit Office recommended last November a fast way to be found for processing claims, as survivors were waiting an average of 16 months for their applications to be processed.
The redress scheme started in 2018, and is expected to run for a decade, following the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse.
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In football, Socceroos defender Lucas Herrington says he's been boosted by the very public praise of coach Tony Popovic, as he seeks a starting spot at the World Cup.
The 18-year-old Queenslander is the youngest player in the Socceroos' World Cup squad, and Popovic has been complimentary of his play for his U-S club side, Colorado Rapids.
Herrington says Popovic's belief in him is similar to the belief Brisbane Roar coach Ruben Zadkovich had in him when he first started in the A-League.
"It's nice to hear from your coach that he believes in you and he trusts you, so he just gives you confidence just to go and do your thing. I love the opportunity that the gaffer has given me here... just trying to do the best I can every game and hopefully... we'll see what happens."
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