Australia politics reside: Zelenskyy backs Oscar Jenkins investigation after name with Albanese

Parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism on campus to query QUT

Caitlin Cassidy

A parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism on college campuses will query the Queensland College of Expertise (QUT) this morning after it acquired backlash over a controversial anti-racism symposium hosted on its campus.

On Tuesday, QUT appointed former decide Hon Justice John Middleton AM KC’s to steer an impartial evaluation into the content material of the symposium, run by QUT’s Carumba Institute, and its broader program of occasions and actions.

The college has acquired widespread backlash from some Jewish teams and political leaders, together with the training minister and former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, over the symposium, which included a comedy occasion previous to the symposium with a cartoon picture of a personality dubbed “Dutton’s Jew”.

The slide, offered by head of the Jewish Council of Australia, Sarah Schwartz, criticised what she described as stereotyping of the Jewish neighborhood by the Coalition, offering a “human shield” to speak about “hating on migrants … protecting everyday Aussies from left-wing anti-war protesters and … bolstering support for Israel”.

QUT vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil mentioned she appreciated Middleton had agreed to independently assess the symposium and awaited his findings, which might be made public as soon as the evaluation was accomplished.

Macquarie College officers will seem earlier than the inquiry at 9am, adopted by QUT’s vice-chancellor Sheil and vice-president, Leanne Harvey, at 9.45am. The listening to will adjourn at 10.30am.

Hanson-Younger anxious Labor not doing sufficient to manage know-how

Earlier this morning Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Younger was on ABC Information Breakfast and in addition weighed in on dwelling affairs minister Tony Burke’s announcement that DeepSeek can be banned from authorities gadgets.

Hanson-Younger says she’ll take the safety company’s recommendation on the AI app, however is worried in regards to the authorities not doing sufficient to manage know-how, together with establishing a “duty of care” on massive social media platforms.

The obligation of care was advisable in a evaluation of the net security act launched this week, and communications minister Michelle Rowland has mentioned she intends to behave on it, however the timeline is unclear. Hanson-Younger says:

I’m anxious that regardless of with the ability to transfer quick on one thing like this in relation to this Chinese language-owned chatbot, that we’re seeing the federal government and seemingly the opposition beginning to crab stroll away from stronger laws in opposition to the large tech firms and billionaires like, in fact, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.

Emily Wind

Coleman on US and China tariffs

Sticking with China, David Coleman was requested about its intention to struggle again in opposition to US tariffs – and the way uncovered Australia is amid this.

The shadow overseas minister mentioned it was essential for Australia to make sure “our relationship with the United States stays strong”.

There’s a number of good the reason why Australia shouldn’t be [hit with tariffs]. We’ve received a robust commerce surplus with the US, investing very closely within the US via the Aukus deal and thru the numerous improve in defence expenditure from the Coalition.

So this, frankly, needs to be one thing that Australia can handle efficiently. That’s what we anticipate, that’s what we need to see, and that’s what we would like the federal government to ship.

The host mentioned Chinese language tariffs would improve taxes on American coal and fuel, and requested whether or not there was a possibility for Australian producers to use this. Coleman mentioned the important thing precedence was “to make sure that tariffs are not slapped on Australian goods and services”.

There’ll clearly be bumps within the street and ups and downs within the world state of affairs, however the authorities’s job is to maintain Australia out of those tariffs, and that’s what they should do.

Emily Wind

Coleman backs banning DeepSeek from authorities gadgets

Shadow overseas affairs minister David Coleman has additionally backed a transfer by the federal government to ban Chinese language AI chatbot DeepSeek from all federal authorities gadgets – citing unspecified nationwide safety dangers.

Talking on Sky Information simply earlier, Coleman mentioned it was “sensible for the government to act on that security advice, which seems to be quite clear cut”.

We absolutely help that call.

Requested if he has issues about different Chinese language apps, reminiscent of Rednote, Coleman mentioned the Coalition hadn’t known as for any additional bans on apps:

This DeepSeek ban that the federal government’s introduced immediately is about authorities gadgets, it’s in regards to the retention of data in China, and we help that. However we’re not calling for additional bans.

‘Much tougher penalties’ on terrorism offences wanted – Hume

RN host Sally Sara strikes to antisemitism, which is able to doubtless be debated additional in parliament immediately.

Jane Hume says the opposition is pushing for stronger penalties, like necessary sentencing, for some terror offences.

We’d like a lot more durable penalties, which is why I believe James Patterson and and Michaela Money have been very clear on the Coalition’s dedication to herald necessary sentencing for terrorist offences, as much as six years for terrorist offences, and in addition one yr for these which can be brandishing the symbols of hate, which in the mean time we merely don’t have.

Sara pushes her on the truth that the Coalition tried in 2014 to vary Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act, which might have controversially peeled again protections for susceptible teams. Then legal professional normal George Brandis famously mentioned on the time that folks had a “right to be a bigot”.

Hume in response says that was a debate “of some time ago” and “I think that what we’ve seen here is a specific rise in antisemitism”.

Hume on the ‘influence of big money from political donations’

Shadow finance minister Jane Hume is chatting with ABC RN Breakfast on the electoral reforms.

We’re nonetheless but to see a deal between the federal government and the Coalition or the crossbench, however Hume says there’s solely a “small proportion” of the laws that’s controversial.

We need to make it possible for there is a chance for all events to run on a good enjoying discipline. Minister [Don] Farrell has been fairly clear about eradicating that affect of huge cash from political donations, and I can perceive precisely why that may be.

I believe once we noticed the rise of the teals and in addition United Australia celebration, we will see the place large cash was influencing political outcomes, and that’s one thing that I do know Mr Farrell has been involved about from day one in all this authorities.

Farrell: ‘no reason’ for US tariffs on Australia

Commerce minister Don Farrell has been very busy – he’s coping with electoral reform in parliament, and making an attempt to cope with the opportunity of commerce tariffs from the US.

On the tariffs, Farrell, chatting with ABC AM, makes the argument that Australia buys “almost twice as much” from the US. He additionally factors to the Indo Pacific financial framework that Australia and the US signed final yr in Singapore.

Why would you impose a tariff on a on a rustic the place you’ve received received a surplus. And naturally, that was the argument that former prime minister returnable used with Mr Trump final time. So I believe we’ve received a really robust argument.

Then transferring onto electoral reforms, Farrell says he’s speaking to “everybody” however gained’t say whether or not he’s reached a deal.

A reminder – the crossbench usually are not proud of this invoice because it limits the quantity particular person candidates may spend, which they are saying would have a big impact on impartial candidates making an attempt to get elected.

Some on the crossbench – together with Kate Chaney and David Pocock – are calling for the invoice to be break up, as they help elements of the invoice that cope with donation transparency.

Coalition supportive on DeepSeek ban from authorities gadgets

Deputy opposition chief Sussan Ley has spoken to Sky Information this morning, saying her celebration is supportive of banning Chinese language AI app DeepSeek from authorities gadgets.

She says the federal government has entry to “detailed technical national security advice”.

That is about info, delicate info that belongs in our Australian authorities with our officers, discovering its means – if we aren’t cautious – into the palms of overseas governments. It’s so simple as that.

She additionally bats away criticism the ban may have an effect on the Chinese language neighborhood in Australia.

In a single day Anthony Albanese spoke with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy forward of the third anniversary of Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy posted to X following the assembly, saying he was working to expedite defence support, and that “we must establish all the circumstances surrounding the case of Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins”.

Albanese has launched an announcement this morning on the decision:

The prime minister spoke to President Zelenskyy final evening as Ukraine approaches the third anniversary of Russia’s unlawful full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese underlined Australia’s ongoing help for Ukraine via navy tools and different help together with our motion via sanctions to carry Russia to account.

President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for Australia’s help, each materials and in any other case.

The prime minister raised the welfare of Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins.

Good morning

Krishani Dhanji

Krishani Dhanji right here with you as we proceed on the primary sitting week of the yr.

Yesterday was all about lunch, so what’s the federal government’s primary meal going to be immediately?

You possibly can anticipate a few of that chatter to proceed, however we’re anticipating some debate on the hate crimes laws immediately, after independents Allegra Spender and Jacqui Lambie launched a movement on antisemitism to the home and Senate yesterday.

And Martin has already flagged the governmental DeepSeek ban introduced in a single day – we’ll doubtless see extra dialogue on that immediately too.

Let’s get began.

Most actual property professionals anticipate a seamless climb in home costs forward of anticipated rate of interest cuts and a federal election the place dwelling possession will stay a coverage precedence, Australian Related Press reviews.

Queensland is anticipated to proceed its rise in 2025, buoyed by interstate migration, whereas Melbourne’s subdued efficiency may flip round, as falling values stoke renewed demand.

However the tempo of progress could gradual with affordability constraints remaining.

The predictions come from a CoreLogic survey, launched immediately, of greater than 2,400 actual property professionals throughout the property and finance industries.

“While we do expect values to finish 2025 higher, the pace of increase will probably be softer than the 4.9% achieved in 2024,” the agency’s head of analysis, Eliza Owen, mentioned.

Virtually two-thirds of these surveyed anticipated costs to extend, with 1 / 4 of them anticipating progress to exceed 5%.

Solely 12% of respondents anticipated a lower and the overwhelming majority of them anticipated values to fall lower than 5%.

CoreLogic earlier reported a slight downturn in costs within the nation’s most populous cities – Sydney and Melbourne – and slowing progress in different capitals to finish 2024, however it’s anticipated to be short-lived.

Doable rate of interest cuts earlier than the election may gas an uptick in demand by boosting borrowing capability however there stays a necessity for extra houses to be constructed.

The federal and state governments have an agreed goal to ship 1.2m new houses by mid-2029, however figures for the December quarter present development exercise stays significantly beneath the 60,000 required each three months.

Funding for tasks that might help development is one other a part of the federal government’s plan, whereas the Coalition has additionally promised $5bn in grants and concessional loans to fund development-enabling infrastructure if elected.

Welcome

Martin Farrer

Good morning and welcome to our reside information weblog. I’m Martin Farrer with a few of our greatest in a single day tales earlier than Krishani Dhanji takes the reins.

Amid a scramble by Australian officers to reorientate coverage within the wake of Donald Trump’s election win, Kevin Rudd appeared to sum it up greatest. “Interesting times. Too interesting,” he mentioned in an e-mail which is a part of a FoI cache obtained by our reporters. Our full report reveals how Australian officers grappled with the incoming US president’s “unclear” commerce proposals within the wake of his November win and what affect they could have on Australia.

With immigration more likely to be a key challenge on this yr’s federal election, we report on a brand new research immediately that reveals voters have a nuanced view of the problem. Whereas the bulk would really like decrease ranges of migration, they help extra expert migration and alter their views when given extra details about how extra migrant staff may assist construct extra homes and due to this fact ease the housing disaster. It comes as a brand new report by the info evaluation agency CoreLogic suggests lack of provide will proceed to push home costs increased this yr. Extra arising.

The federal authorities has issued a ban on all merchandise, functions and providers made by the China-based AI firm DeepSeek and has ordered that they should be faraway from federal authorities programs and gadgets. Australian customers have been inspired to evaluation any firm’s privateness insurance policies to know how their information is used. In an announcement final evening, the house affairs minister, Tony Burke, mentioned the federal government “will not hesitate to act” in opposition to a nationwide safety threat.