Key Points
- A new bill proposed to oversee triple zero emergency service
- Pro Hamas graffiti condemned by Australian leaders on tragic anniversary
- “Not fine” Kasatkina to take the rest of 2025 off tennis, citing mental health
TRANSCRIPT
Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells is introducing a new law to parliament that will establish a custodian to oversee the Triple-zero emergency service.
It comes as Ms Wells summons the heads of Australia's major telecommunications providers to the parliament, including Optus, which recorded two emergency call outages last month.
The proposed custodian role is to be embedded within the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
But the shadow communications minister, Melissa Mactonish, questions whether the new law will be effective.
"To me, the work that we've done looks like solving a bureaucratic problem with more bureaucracy, giving the powers instead to the government to solve some of the solutions of the government's issues. So, I don't think a secretary of a department overseeing ACMA is going to solve the problem. It seems like the government is rushing it through as a bit of a political PR exercise as opposed to solving the issues that are going to result in people being able to call our most important triple-zero network."
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Federal and state politicians have condemned pro-Hamas graffiti that has appeared on a billboard in Melbourne, on the two-year anniversary of Hamas attack on a music festival and settlements in Israel.
Around 1200 people were killed and 250 people were taken hostage in the attacks.
In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned the graffiti, calling it a terrorist propaganda.
He says people who are responsible for the graffiti must face the full force of the law, as the Australian Federal Police investigate the incident with Victorian Police.
Co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin, says the Jewish community has experienced everything from the terrifying to the absurd in the past two years.
"Through it all we remain hopeful people, while we would never forget or forgive what Hamas did on the day two years ago and what it continues to do, we live in hope that hostages will soon be freed, that the anguish of families will soon end, and they can all begin to heal."
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The Australian Jewish community is paying tribute to those who lost their lives on the 7th of October 2023, when Hamas launched attacks on the Nova Music Festival and Israeli settlements.
In Melbourne, members of the Jewish community have held vigils to commemorate the tragic event.
Natalie Sanadaji survived the attack on the Nova Music Festival.
She recounts to SBS Hebrew the horror she and her friends experienced when Hamas militants arrived and began shooting.
"I remember me and my three friends were kind of looking at each other, confused, for a few seconds, and that's when we hear the first gunshot. And in that moment, you understand the severity of situation, you understand that's not just, 'rockets'.”
Israel launched it war against Hamas the following day.
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Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is visiting Australia this week, and is expected to discuss the next phase of Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The visit will be the fourth time the leaders have met, and it will be Mr Wong's first official visit to Australia since taking office in May.
In a statement, Mr Albanese says Singapore is vital partner and close friend to Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles also meets with his Singaporean counterpart Chan Chun Sing in Canberra.
This morning, Mr Wong met with New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, ahead of a day of talks.
"Welcome to Sydney, thank you.
"Lovely to meet you.
"How has the trip been?
"Well, I just got in last night and was greeted by your minister.
"Well, we've turned on the weather for you."
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Australia and Singapore's diplomatic relations, and the 10th anniversary of the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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A new report has found two in ten G-Ps have experienced racism from a patient within their practice, while one in 10 encountered racism from a colleague.
The 2025 Health of the Nation report also found 30 per cent of GPs have observed racism towards patients in the broader health system, calling it a major issue in Australia's healthcare system.
Dr Karen Nicholls is the chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council, and she says racism can have severe consequences.
"There's been lots of discussions over the years about the impacts of racism, and whilst it has been a long time coming it is very welcome. And any opportunity to actually highlight it and address it is to be applauded."
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To sport and in tennis, Australian women's number one, Daria Kasatkina is off court for the rest of the year, saying she is mentally and emotionally at breaking point.
The star player says recently switching from Russian to Australian nationality has contributed to her stress, combined with distance from loved ones and the strain of the professional tennis circuit.
Kasatkina posted on social media, writing that the truth is she has not been fine for a long time, which she believes is reflected in her performance.
In an emotional statement, she wrote that she needs a break.
"I know I am strong and I will get stronger by being away, recharging, regrouping and reenergising," said Kasatkina.
"2025 is done for me, and like me, it's been far from fine."
