Australia information dwell: Sydney pro-Palestine march was ‘extraordinary’, Penny Wong says; heavy fog stops harbour ferries

The most recent data is that some ferries have resumed because the fog lifts.

The ferry operator says:

Ferries east of the Harbour Bridge now working after earlier heavy fog.

F3 and F4 ferries are nonetheless affected by the fog, with some cancelled between Rydalmere & Round Quay and between Olympic Park & Barangaroo.

No Sydney ferries are operating in the mean time because of the heavy fog, in keeping with an advisory from the NSW transport division.

They are saying:

Make various preparations or take into account catching a bus as an alternative. Additionally, hearken to bulletins & examine information shows for updates.

At this stage there is no such thing as a forecast when ferry providers will resume.

Palestine Motion Group plans extra nationwide protests to construct on ‘massive momentum’

Palestine Motion Group organiser Josh Lees says the group is planning protests in Sydney and different cities following the Sydney Harbour Bridge march on Sunday, Australian Related Press stories.

“We want to build on this massive momentum we have now,” he informed reporters yesterday with protests deliberate for Sunday 24 August.

Regardless of issues of normal marches throughout the bridge, Lees mentioned the group has no plans for a repeat crossing any time quickly and accused the NSW premier, Chris Minns, of getting an anti-protest agenda.

Lees mentioned:

His stance is fairly clear and he’s handed a raft of anti-protest laws already.

We’re going to should hold combating for our rights to show.

Penny Wong was requested if the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, deliberate to make use of “the threat of recognition” of a Palestinian state as “a point of leverage” because the UK has, in his forthcoming name along with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu.

She declined to say, answering: “You would anticipate that the prime minister in his international interactions, just reflects the position we articulate as an Australian government, as do I.”

She pointed to Australia’s sanctions on “extremist settlers and … entities that are associated with that”, and mentioned:

We wish to do what we are able to to protect the potential for a Palestinian state … Australia believes that’s the one option to guarantee peace and safety for Israelis and for Palestinians.

Requested what steps the federal government was taking forward of a September UN convention the place Palestinian recognition will lead the agenda, Wong mentioned there was “a lot of coordination and discussion with other parties and other countries”.

I feel all of us recognise this is perhaps, I feel somebody mentioned, ‘our last hope’… we can not stand by with what is occurring in Gaza and never add momentum in direction of two states. We can not stand by while the prospect of a Palestinian state is diminished on the bottom by settlements and different statements …

As I hold saying, I can not see long run stability and peace for Israelis and Palestinians until the Palestinian challenge is resolved: the problem of the Palestinian state. That was the promise that the worldwide group made once we established, as a collective, the state of Israel.

Wong hails ‘extraordinary’ Sydney bridge march however hedges on additional Labor motion

Imogen Dewey

Australia’s international minister was requested on the ABC’s 7.30 final night time if Sunday’s march for Gaza on the Sydney Harbour Bridge would instantly influence authorities coverage.

“That was an extraordinary march and I think it demonstrates what we all feel,” Wong answered.

I do know that Australians are feeling distressed, offended, upset, actually horrified by what they’re seeing in Gaza. I definitely share that misery. So do ministers within the authorities.

This system’s host, Sarah Ferguson, pushed her: “If it wasn’t Israel, would the world’s response be tougher?”

Wong referred again to the federal government’s announcement yesterday of an additional $20m in help. “Even the US has made its position on [the stopping of aid] very clear … they are probably the strongest ally of Israel.”

She described ongoing deaths from hunger within the Palestinian territory as “horrific”. “As the prime minister said, it can’t be justified. It can’t be defended.”

Nonetheless, Wong did defend Australia’s response, saying:

We’re not the central participant. However what we’ve got completed is labored with others within the worldwide group to press for, to name for help and humanitarian assist to be delivered safely, and at scale. I feel you will have seen rather a lot, an excessive amount of strain being utilized to the Israelis on that entrance, each publicly and past.

Wong refused to say instantly whether or not Israel was “using starvation as a weapon of war”, replying: “I think it is impossible to justify the withholding of aid from civilians.”

Good morning and welcome to our dwell information weblog. I’m Martin Farrer with the highest in a single day tales, after which it’ll be Nick Visser to take the controls.

Penny Wong has known as the Sydney Harbour Bridge pro-Palestine march as “extraordinary” however defended the federal government’s refusal to comply with the UK, France and Canada in taking steps in direction of recognising Palestinian statehood. We’ve got particulars of what she mentioned on 7.30 final night time developing.

Wong’s feedback got here as pro-Palestine teams mentioned they wished to construct on the success of the Sydney protest. Additional protests are deliberate on Sunday 24 August in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth with hopes extra may be organised in different cities. Extra developing.

Plus – Sydney has woken as much as a foggy morning, which implies (for now) the ferries aren’t operating.