Key events
Albanese is asked about comments made by Oxfam Australia chief executive Lyn Morgain, with the not-for-profit calling for the stage three tax cuts to be abolished.
Morgain told ABC News Breakfast earlier that the cuts were a “travesty” and it was “simply a very poor policy choice”.
At a time when members of the Australian community are unhoused as a result of fire, as a result of flood, it seems unacceptable … that we could be giving large benefits to those who already have a great deal.
Responding to her comments, Albanese said the government’s position on stage three tax cuts hasn’t changed, and pointed to cost of living measures his government has introduced around Medicare and childcare.
…inequality is an issue and the government has looked at ways in which we can improve that position.
He said the stage three tax cuts begin at $45,000 and argued this was “important” to note. He said the government would continue to look at “a range of measures” in the lead up to the May budget, and are prepared to also take action in between budgets because “we understand that people are doing it really tough out there”.
Albanese congratulates Lai Ching-te on victory in Taiwanese election
Asked about the Taiwan election, with Lai Ching-te from the pro-sovereignty party elected president, Albanese said Australia supports the democratic process:
We congratulate Mr Lai on his election, as we would have congratulated whoever came out of that democratic process. Australia’s position is we respect these processes and we support the outcomes.
… We’ll continue to work on what is an important relationship, consistent though with the long-standing and bipartisan one China policy that we have.
PM says Australia is a ‘respected voice’ in the Middle East
Q: Why are you sending the foreign minister to the Middle East at this time?
Anthony Albanese:
The foreign minister is travelling to the Middle East because quite clearly what’s occurring after the Hamas attack on innocent civilians in Israel, and then the devastation that we’ve seen in Gaza, is something that is of concern to the global community.
It is appropriate that Penny Wong travel to Israel, to the Occupied Palestinian territories, to Jordan, as well as to the United Arab Emirates to support the diplomatic efforts that will be required to have a durable peace in the Middle East that is in everyone’s interest.
We are not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice and this visit is about us being able to express our voice, and for Penny Wong, to see firsthand and to have those discussions.
Albanese says Australian support of airstrikes in Yemen is about sending a message on trade disruptions
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is speaking to ABC RN about Penny Wong’s visit to the Middle East this week.
He begins with commenting on Australia’s support of the US and UK militaries as they launched more than a dozen airstrikes against sites used by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
He said Australia, along with the US and the UK, wants to send a message that the “international community won’t just sit back and allow for this trade to be disrupted, with a potential significant impact on the global economy”.
Body of missing teenage swimmer found off NSW coast
The body of a teenage boy has been found on the NSW mid north coast after he went missing while swimming.
Emergency services were called to Angourie Green Pool, 5km south of Yamba, around 3pm on Sunday following reports a teenage boy was missing after jumping from a rock ledge.
The body of a 15-year-old boy was found around 10pm, NSW police said, following a search assisted by Surf Lifesavers, the Westpac rescue helicopter and police divers.
He has been formally identified as the missing swimmer. A report will be prepared for coroner.
Josh Butler
Applications open for Housing Australia Future Fund
The federal government has today opened applications under its major housing policy, the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), for social and affordable homes.
Labor says today “kickstarts the single biggest investment in social and affordable rental housing in more than a decade”, with the HAFF and its national housing accord planned to deliver some 40,000 homes.
The applications include an opportunity for institutional investors (like superannuation funds) to work with government on funding construction. The federal housing minister, Julie Collins, said:
The opening of applications for the Housing Australia Future Fund and national housing accord marks a huge step forward.
These new homes are a critical part of our ambitious housing reform agenda which is working across the board – with more help for homebuyers, more help for renters and more help for Australians needing a safe place for the night.
Josh Butler
Penny Wong calls for Israel to respect humanitarian law and for Hamas to lay down its arms
In a statement ahead of her departure, Penny Wong also raised concern about the war in Gaza.
Like many of Israel’s friends, Australia has been clear that the way Israel defends itself matters. Israel must respect international humanitarian law and conduct military operations lawfully. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.
Australia wants to see steps towards a sustainable ceasefire. That can never be one-sided. It is our view that Gaza must no longer be used as a platform for terrorism and that Hamas must lay down its arms.
Wong said Australia remained committed to a two-state solution, “where Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders”.
Penny Wong to visit the Middle East this week
Josh Butler
Penny Wong will meet Israeli families of hostages taken by Hamas, as well as Palestinians impacted by settler violence in the West Bank, on a politically tricky trip to the Middle East this week.
The foreign minister will visit Jordan, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories and the United Arab Emirates this week, flying out to the region today. Her trip will focus on advocating for a pathway out of the war in Gaza, as well as increasing humanitarian aid in the region for besieged Palestinians. Wong will also stress the importance of upholding international law, and the protection of civilians.
The itinerary for Wong’s trip includes meeting her government counterparts in Israel and the Palestinian territories; she will also meet survivors of the 7 October Hamas terror attacks and the families of hostages taken, as well as Palestinian victims of settler violence.
Wong claimed that Australia is “not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice”. In a statement ahead of her departure, the minister said she would push for a “pathway out of this conflict” in Gaza, including increases to humanitarian assistance.
I will express our profound concern that there are increasingly few safe places for Gazans. I will reiterate our call for safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access so that food, water, fuel, medicine and essential assistance to reach people in desperate need, and so civilians can get to safety.
She again stressed Australia continuing to “unequivocally” condemn the Hamas attack, and for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, once more calling for the terror group to “lay down its arms”.
Good morning
Emily Wind
And welcome back to another week on the Australia news live blog – I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through today’s rolling coverage.
Making news today: The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will visit the Middle East this week, meeting with Israeli families of hostages taken by Hamas and Palestinians impacted by settler violence in the West Bank. She will visit Jordan, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories and the United Arab Emirates, flying out to the region today.
The federal government has today opened applications for social and affordable housing under its major housing policy – the Housing Australia Future Fund (Haff).
We will have more on both of these stories shortly.
Meanwhile, overnight Denmark’s prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as king and his Hobart-born wife as Queen Mary after Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication.
See something that needs attention on the blog today? You can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or send me an email: [email protected].
With that, let’s get started.
