Planned pro-Palestine rally and vigil ‘hugely insensitive’: Chris Minns
NSW Premier Chris Minns is speaking live ahead of the pro-Palestine rally and vigil planned for 6 October and 7 October, which he calls “hugely insensitive”:
I remain of the view that it is hugely insensitive, at best, to hold a planned vigil or rally on that day, 7 October. The truth of the matter is that it could inflame tensions in an already stretched and volatile situation in Sydney – not just Sydney but right around the world.
Minns noted that Monday’s event was “not authorised” after a court hearing on Thursday ended with police and protesters agreeing Sunday’s rally could proceed with alterations.
First thing I would like to say is that no agreement from New South Wales police or the government was reached in relation to planned get-togethers or protests or vigils for Monday 7 October. That is the anniversary of the terrorist incident in Israel 12 months ago. NSW police did not withdraw their objections and they did not reach an understanding with protest organisers. Organisers withdrew their application for a planned get-together on that Monday.
This is not an authorised protest in Sydney.
Key events
‘Heart-wrenching’ call behind empty Lebanon flights
A flight that left Lebanon on Thursday with 80 seats allocated for Australians had just 41 people take up the offer.
A further 500 seats are available on a flight that will leave Lebanon on Saturday, with only 238 Australians registering for the evacuation offer so far.
Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts said while Australians should get out of Lebanon on the evacuation flights, he admitted the decision to leave would not be easy for many.
He told ABC TV on Friday:
People have entrenched lives in that community, they live there, they have elderly family, they have businesses, they have properties, so it’s understandable.
This is a heart-wrenching decision to leave, but our advice is don’t think twice about it.
– Australian Associated Press
A man has been charged with murder following an alleged assault in Coffs Harbour last month, NSW Police said in a media release.
At around 4:15am on Thursday 26 September, emergency services were called to Kurrajong Street following reports of an assault. Officers found a 41-year-old man suffering injuries to his upper body.
The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics. He was taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital, where he later died.
An investigation into the incident commenced under Strike Force Sandbach.
Yesterday, police arrested a 24-year-old man on Azalea Avenue, Coffs Harbour, about 4.20pm. He was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with murder.
He was refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court today.
Josh Taylor Court rejects X claim that it didn’t need to pay eSafety fine because Twitter didn’t exist
The federal court rejected X’s claim that the platform was not required pay a $610,500 fine from eSafety because Twitter no longer existed after it merged with X. The reasons for the court’s decision have been published.
Justice Simon Wheelahan found X Corp “failed to show that it was not required to respond to the reporting notice” related to how it tackled child abuse on its platform.
He said:
It also necessarily follows that X Corp has not shown, on this ground, that the infringement officer did not have reasonable grounds to believe that X Corp had contravened s 57 of the Online Safety Act, which was the other main issue.
The main case over the fine itself continues.
Josh Taylor Earlier we reported eSafety had lost its federal court case against X over a fine issued to the social media site for failing to respond to questions on how it tackles child abuse on its platform.
That was incorrect. eSafety had taken X to court in a bid to enforce the fine, and X had countersued over the fine, but lost that countersuit and was ordered to pay eSafety’s costs.
Apologies for the error. We are waiting on reasons and will publish more information when we have it.
The NSW premier Chris Minns warned of an “overwhelming police response” if the planned pro-Palestinian vigil or rally “attempts to go mobile”:
I want to make it clear that attempts to go mobile, or walk through the streets, or go through sensitive parts of Sydney in particular, during a public holiday, during the school holidays, there will be an overwhelming police response.
I will not go into tactics in relation to what police can are able to do, but I do not want the impression left that New South Wales police negotiated with the protest organisers and therefor allowed a protest to go ahead on Monday. It remains unauthorised.
NSW Premier Chris Minns is speaking live ahead of the pro-Palestine rally and vigil planned for 6 October and 7 October, which he calls “hugely insensitive”:
I remain of the view that it is hugely insensitive, at best, to hold a planned vigil or rally on that day, 7 October. The truth of the matter is that it could inflame tensions in an already stretched and volatile situation in Sydney – not just Sydney but right around the world.
Minns noted that Monday’s event was “not authorised” after a court hearing on Thursday ended with police and protesters agreeing Sunday’s rally could proceed with alterations.
First thing I would like to say is that no agreement from New South Wales police or the government was reached in relation to planned get-togethers or protests or vigils for Monday 7 October. That is the anniversary of the terrorist incident in Israel 12 months ago. NSW police did not withdraw their objections and they did not reach an understanding with protest organisers. Organisers withdrew their application for a planned get-together on that Monday.
This is not an authorised protest in Sydney.
Dutton takes aim at teals: ‘They are in many cases as far left as the Greens’
Peter Dutton says “every Australian … should be aware of the teal political party”.
Just like every Australian, every Queenslander should be aware of the teal political party. The teals are owned by a billionaire. His name is Simon Holmes a Court, he owns that party. He puts money into these proxies. He doesn’t run himself, but he puts teal candidates up to do his bidding. As we have seen in this parliament, they vote 70, 80% of the time with Greens and Labor. They are in many cases as far left as the Greens. So if you want instability and you want a minority Albanese government – which would be, it’s hard to believe, but even worse and more unstable than the Albanese government – the teals is something you may consider.
Most of the teal independents received some campaign funding at the 2022 election from a group called Climate 200, established by the Melbourne philanthropist Simon Holmes à Court in 2019. It provided funding to independent candidates who made climate action, political integrity and gender equality the main planks of their campaign. We unpacked who the teal independents are two years ago. You can read the explainer here:
Dutton claims Albanese putting political interest ahead of national interest on Israel
Opposition leader Peter Dutton is speaking live.
He said the government urging Israel to enter “an amnesty” is “at odds with our key coalition partners”:
When the government says that Israel should lay down its weapons and enter into … an amnesty, or however Richard Marles described it yesterday, that is at odds with our key coalition partners.
I think the problem with the government’s position at the moment is that they have decided that they want domestic political opportunity to trump our national interest. I think Australians will condemn the prime minister for that.
It’s clear the prime minister at the moment is being led by the Greens and paranoid about the Labor vote fracturing and going to the Greens in inner Sydney and Melbourne. That’s not in our country’s best interest. The prime minister should put our national interest first instead of his own political interest. At the moment he’s not doing that.
Andrew Messenger Peter Dutton has become the first federal leader to join the Queensland election campaign.
For the first time since his nuclear power pledge, the opposition leader is holding a joint press conference with Queensland Liberal National party leader David Crissafulli, who has been tipped by polls to win the 26 October vote.
Crisafulli has repeatedly ruled out supporting nuclear power in Queensland, where the federal government plans several plants.
He did this again as recently as this week, denying there was any amount of money sufficient to change his mind.
Crisafulli has also ruled out repealing the state’s nuclear ban.
Thousands of parents and teenagers have highlighted social media’s negative impacts, including addiction and other harms, in a major survey.
Six-in-seven respondents backed age restrictions for social media use, with 16 being the most suggested minimum age.
The NSW government survey, taking in views from 21,000 people, revealed usage steadily increased with a child’s age, with 70% of 10 to 12 year olds already on the apps, while those aged 16 and 17 averaged more than three hours a day.
Young people cited concerns over excessive screen time, with two out of every three teens aged 16 to 17 saying social media distracts them from essential tasks such as schoolwork and family obligations.
Parents highlighted addiction, exposure to inappropriate content and the detrimental effect on their children’s daily responsibilities.
The most frequently mentioned issues included cyber security risks, exposure to harmful content and concerns over how social media usage is affecting children’s behaviour.
NSW premier Chris Minns said:
Parents are concerned about how social media is impacting the lives of young people.
The huge response to this survey sends a powerful message about the extent of community concern.
Parents and children are rightly concerned about this giant global unregulated experiment on young people.
– via AAP
Woman allegedly assaulted paramedic at address of suspicious death
The death of a man found inside a Mitcham property last night is being investigated by the homicide squad.
The man, who is yet to be identified, was found inside a property on Simla Street about 5.45pm yesterday, Victoria police said in a media release. Ambulance officers attended the scene.
A 27-year-old woman at the address allegedly assaulted a paramedic, according to the media release.
Police attended and arrested the Ashwood woman. She remains under police guard in hospital and is yet to be interviewed.
The man’s death is being treated as suspicious. The exact cause is yet to be determined.
Tory Shepherd Can Australian authorities take action against protesters who wave the Hezbollah flag?
Australian federal police are investigating after prohibited symbols of Hezbollah were displayed at the weekend. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, wants parliament urgently recalled to debate new anti-terrorism laws. The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, accused him of wanting “to raise the temperature” and said the visas of anyone who incited discord should be revoked (but no one is sure if anyone involved is here on a visa anyway).
What’s going on, and what might happen next? Here is what you need to know:
Federal court rejects X’s claim that it can’t be fined by eSafety over child safety questions
Planned pro-Palestine rally and vigil ‘hugely insensitive’: Chris Minns
Dutton joins Queensland election campaign with Crisafulli – who opposes nuclear
Minns labels social media an ‘unregulated experiment’ on kids as NSW survey released
