Federal Election 2025: Key Voice campaigner Thomas Mayo hails Labor victory as support for welcome to country
Thomas Mayo was one of the most prominent campaigners for the Yes vote in the failed 2023 referendum on amending the Australian constitution to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
'Tonight, Australia voted no to ignorance and yes to acknowledgement,' the Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander posted on X on Saturday night.
'No to xenophobia and yes to welcomes, no to regression and yes to progress.'
Former Liberal leader Peter Dutton last week said he thought Aboriginal welcome to country ceremonies had become 'overdone'.
The issue of the failed Voice was also reignited last week when Foreign Minister Penny Wong hinted in a podcast there was a chance it could be revived — though she later backed away from those comments.
Mr Mayo added that leading figures from the Coalition, One Nation, Trumpet of Patriots and right-wing campaign groups had been rejected resoundingly by voters.
'Peter Dutton, Jacinta Price, Clive Palmer, Pauline Hanson, the IPA and Advance henceforth have no mandate,' he wrote. 'They've been thoroughly told no.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
29 minutes ago
- West Australian
Australia joins global condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza
The Australian Government has joined a global joint statement to end war in Gaza, a move Israel's ambassador to Australia warns is 'disconnected from reality'. In a statement welcomed by terrorist organisation Hamas, Australia joined 27 other countries, including Five Eyes partners the UK, New Zealand and Canada, to call for urgent end to the war in Gaza, where the suffering of civilians had 'reached new depths.' 'The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity,' it said. 'We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid.' Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told ABC News Breakfast the 'images of children being killed, of horrific slaughter, of churches being bombed' were 'indefensible.' 'On our own, Australia is not a loud voice or a decisive voice on the other side of the world. But when you can make a statement together with so many other significant powers, then we're all hoping that there'll be something that'll break this,' he said. 'It's a powerful statement. It's got countries, powerful countries from all around the world saying the same thing. The slaughter has to end.' Mr Burke added that 'none of this changes the fact that the hostages need to be released,' a call reflected in the statement's wording that 'hostages cruelly held captive by Hamas since 7 October 2023 continue to suffer terribly.' The call was immediately rebutted by Israel's Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon who said 'it sends the wrong message to Hamas' – a view echoed by the Coalition's shadow foreign minister Michaelia Cash, who slammed a 'disappointing' attack on Israel that ignored the role of Hamas in the conflict. Mr Maimon swiftly refuted the international demands, reposting the Israeli Foreign Ministry's stern criticism of the joint statement as failing to focus pressure on Hamas and recognise the terrorist organisation's role and responsibility for the situation. 'All statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it,' said the full Israeli foreign ministry response. 'Instead of agreeing to a ceasefire, Hamas is busy running a campaign to spread lies about Israel. At the same time, Hamas is deliberately acting to increase friction and harm to civilians who come to receive humanitarian aid.' The ministry said Israel had repeatedly agreed to a concrete proposal for a ceasefire deal while Hamas 'stubbornly refuses' to accept it. Senator Cash said moral outrage at the situation should instead be directed at Hamas, and while it was important for aid to be able to flow into Gaza that 'the right system' must be in place to prevent its interception by the terrorist organisation. 'Hamas could end the suffering of the people of Gaza by freeing the remaining Israeli hostages and laying down their weapons. This war began because of Hamas's abhorrent attack on Israeli civilians,' she said. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also denounced the joint declaration as 'disgusting!' '25 nations put pressure on @Israel instead of savages of Hamas,' Huckabee wrote on X. He added, 'Gaza suffers for 1 reason: Hamas rejects EVERY proposal. Blaming Israel is irrational.' The statement, which hit the headlines as MPs arrived in Parliament House for the pomp and ceremony of the opening day of the new term, condemned the 'denial of essential humanitarian assistance' to civilians and urged the Israeli Government to comply with its obligations under humanitarian law. Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued the full position via her X account, describing the humanitarian situation as 'catastrophic.' Hamas, which is designated by Australia as a terrorist organisation, welcomed the international calls emphasising the need for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza via the United Nations and the condemnation of the 'starvation policy pursued by the Israeli occupation.' In a press release to the Yemeni state news agency, it said the killing of over 800 Palestinian civilians at 'aid distribution points controlled by US-Israeli mechanisms' underscored the 'brutality of this system and its criminal goal of killing and humiliating Palestinians.' The international statement overshadowed the inauguration of the 48th Federal parliament, creating the first political stoush of Labor's second term. The Greens welcomed the statement as 'significant' but urged the Government to sanction the entire Israeli cabinet to 'end its support and complicity in genocide,' with Senator David Shoebridge unveiling a petition by more than 2500 Australian healthcare workers calling for action to end the weaponisation of aid in Gaza.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'Unusual': the traditions behind parliament's opening
Dragging MPs, knocking on doors with giant rods and senators in the wrong chamber doesn't sound like a usual day at Parliament House. But on the opening day, traditions dating back hundreds of years defined the procedures. The House of Representatives and Senate met on Tuesday for the first time since Labor's election win, but before any debate on legislation took place, parliamentary rituals had to be taken care of first. Parliament was opened up by High Court Chief Justice Stephen Gageler, with all MPs and senators packed into the upper house for the occasion, before returning their respective chambers to be sworn in. Business then turned to electing a Speaker of the House of Representatives and a Senate president. Traditionally, once a Speaker is elected, they are dragged to the speaker's chair by other MPs. The dragging tradition dates back to the early days of the British parliament, when people were reluctantly elected to the role due to predecessors being executed or imprisoned due to the monarch not agreeing with the British parliament's outcome. House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick took part in the ceremonial dragging when he was appointed to the role in 2022, and retained his prominent role in parliament. "When (the traditions) occur for the first time, people see them and they may seem a little unusual," he told AAP. "This is what our democracy has been built on. They signify some of the foundations of our parliament." Later in the day, the Usher of the Black Rod, will knock on the door of the House of Representatives three times to invite MPs to the Senate for a speech by Governor-General Sam Mostyn. The address will outline the priorities of the government during the upcoming three-year term. The speech can't happen in the House of Representatives due to a convention dating back to 1642, when King Charles I went into British parliament and tried to arrest five people but was unsuccessful. Since then, any figure related to the crown such as the Governor General is not allowed in the lower house. Despite the British traditions on display on parliament's opening day, Australian customs were also part of the mix. The day began with a welcome to country and Indigenous smoking ceremony. Senate president Sue Lines said the Indigenous elements of the day were an important part of parliament's opening. "It's important for me and very symbolic that we back our own traditions and acknowledge First Nations (people), and we also have the quirky bits of the Westminster system," Senator Lines told AAP. "These traditions also reinforce the different roles that the House of Representatives and the Senate has, and sometimes that's a bit lost because we get into the argument and debate." Official business will get under way later on Tuesday with maiden speeches by MPs before proposed laws are debated on Wednesday. Dragging MPs, knocking on doors with giant rods and senators in the wrong chamber doesn't sound like a usual day at Parliament House. But on the opening day, traditions dating back hundreds of years defined the procedures. The House of Representatives and Senate met on Tuesday for the first time since Labor's election win, but before any debate on legislation took place, parliamentary rituals had to be taken care of first. Parliament was opened up by High Court Chief Justice Stephen Gageler, with all MPs and senators packed into the upper house for the occasion, before returning their respective chambers to be sworn in. Business then turned to electing a Speaker of the House of Representatives and a Senate president. Traditionally, once a Speaker is elected, they are dragged to the speaker's chair by other MPs. The dragging tradition dates back to the early days of the British parliament, when people were reluctantly elected to the role due to predecessors being executed or imprisoned due to the monarch not agreeing with the British parliament's outcome. House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick took part in the ceremonial dragging when he was appointed to the role in 2022, and retained his prominent role in parliament. "When (the traditions) occur for the first time, people see them and they may seem a little unusual," he told AAP. "This is what our democracy has been built on. They signify some of the foundations of our parliament." Later in the day, the Usher of the Black Rod, will knock on the door of the House of Representatives three times to invite MPs to the Senate for a speech by Governor-General Sam Mostyn. The address will outline the priorities of the government during the upcoming three-year term. The speech can't happen in the House of Representatives due to a convention dating back to 1642, when King Charles I went into British parliament and tried to arrest five people but was unsuccessful. Since then, any figure related to the crown such as the Governor General is not allowed in the lower house. Despite the British traditions on display on parliament's opening day, Australian customs were also part of the mix. The day began with a welcome to country and Indigenous smoking ceremony. Senate president Sue Lines said the Indigenous elements of the day were an important part of parliament's opening. "It's important for me and very symbolic that we back our own traditions and acknowledge First Nations (people), and we also have the quirky bits of the Westminster system," Senator Lines told AAP. "These traditions also reinforce the different roles that the House of Representatives and the Senate has, and sometimes that's a bit lost because we get into the argument and debate." Official business will get under way later on Tuesday with maiden speeches by MPs before proposed laws are debated on Wednesday. Dragging MPs, knocking on doors with giant rods and senators in the wrong chamber doesn't sound like a usual day at Parliament House. But on the opening day, traditions dating back hundreds of years defined the procedures. The House of Representatives and Senate met on Tuesday for the first time since Labor's election win, but before any debate on legislation took place, parliamentary rituals had to be taken care of first. Parliament was opened up by High Court Chief Justice Stephen Gageler, with all MPs and senators packed into the upper house for the occasion, before returning their respective chambers to be sworn in. Business then turned to electing a Speaker of the House of Representatives and a Senate president. Traditionally, once a Speaker is elected, they are dragged to the speaker's chair by other MPs. The dragging tradition dates back to the early days of the British parliament, when people were reluctantly elected to the role due to predecessors being executed or imprisoned due to the monarch not agreeing with the British parliament's outcome. House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick took part in the ceremonial dragging when he was appointed to the role in 2022, and retained his prominent role in parliament. "When (the traditions) occur for the first time, people see them and they may seem a little unusual," he told AAP. "This is what our democracy has been built on. They signify some of the foundations of our parliament." Later in the day, the Usher of the Black Rod, will knock on the door of the House of Representatives three times to invite MPs to the Senate for a speech by Governor-General Sam Mostyn. The address will outline the priorities of the government during the upcoming three-year term. The speech can't happen in the House of Representatives due to a convention dating back to 1642, when King Charles I went into British parliament and tried to arrest five people but was unsuccessful. Since then, any figure related to the crown such as the Governor General is not allowed in the lower house. Despite the British traditions on display on parliament's opening day, Australian customs were also part of the mix. The day began with a welcome to country and Indigenous smoking ceremony. Senate president Sue Lines said the Indigenous elements of the day were an important part of parliament's opening. "It's important for me and very symbolic that we back our own traditions and acknowledge First Nations (people), and we also have the quirky bits of the Westminster system," Senator Lines told AAP. "These traditions also reinforce the different roles that the House of Representatives and the Senate has, and sometimes that's a bit lost because we get into the argument and debate." Official business will get under way later on Tuesday with maiden speeches by MPs before proposed laws are debated on Wednesday. Dragging MPs, knocking on doors with giant rods and senators in the wrong chamber doesn't sound like a usual day at Parliament House. But on the opening day, traditions dating back hundreds of years defined the procedures. The House of Representatives and Senate met on Tuesday for the first time since Labor's election win, but before any debate on legislation took place, parliamentary rituals had to be taken care of first. Parliament was opened up by High Court Chief Justice Stephen Gageler, with all MPs and senators packed into the upper house for the occasion, before returning their respective chambers to be sworn in. Business then turned to electing a Speaker of the House of Representatives and a Senate president. Traditionally, once a Speaker is elected, they are dragged to the speaker's chair by other MPs. The dragging tradition dates back to the early days of the British parliament, when people were reluctantly elected to the role due to predecessors being executed or imprisoned due to the monarch not agreeing with the British parliament's outcome. House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick took part in the ceremonial dragging when he was appointed to the role in 2022, and retained his prominent role in parliament. "When (the traditions) occur for the first time, people see them and they may seem a little unusual," he told AAP. "This is what our democracy has been built on. They signify some of the foundations of our parliament." Later in the day, the Usher of the Black Rod, will knock on the door of the House of Representatives three times to invite MPs to the Senate for a speech by Governor-General Sam Mostyn. The address will outline the priorities of the government during the upcoming three-year term. The speech can't happen in the House of Representatives due to a convention dating back to 1642, when King Charles I went into British parliament and tried to arrest five people but was unsuccessful. Since then, any figure related to the crown such as the Governor General is not allowed in the lower house. Despite the British traditions on display on parliament's opening day, Australian customs were also part of the mix. The day began with a welcome to country and Indigenous smoking ceremony. Senate president Sue Lines said the Indigenous elements of the day were an important part of parliament's opening. "It's important for me and very symbolic that we back our own traditions and acknowledge First Nations (people), and we also have the quirky bits of the Westminster system," Senator Lines told AAP. "These traditions also reinforce the different roles that the House of Representatives and the Senate has, and sometimes that's a bit lost because we get into the argument and debate." Official business will get under way later on Tuesday with maiden speeches by MPs before proposed laws are debated on Wednesday.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Buoyant Albanese plots next phase of Labor dynasty
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a greater role for the government in childcare as he prepares to push through legislation tightening up the sector following horrifying allegations of child abuse at Melbourne early learning centres. Universal affordable childcare was identified by the prime minister during the recent federal election as the one reform he'd most want to be remembered for. But the accusations levelled against Joshua Brown, whose 70 counts of alleged abuse, including child rape, have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of government subsidies into the sector has not been met with a commensurate increase in safety and scrutiny. "Well, it reinforces why you need a stronger commonwealth role in childcare," Mr Albanese said when asked by AAP whether the case had changed his views on how his universal childcare ambition should be enacted. Commentators have criticised the current model of handing subsidies to for-profit providers, arguing the incentive to cut costs and boost margins sacrifices standards and oversight. When asked whether he envisaged the sector being run more like public schools, Mr Albanese said "we'll see how that evolves". "I think it makes sense to have co-location of childcare centres wherever possible in schools. It is just a practical thing to be done. "If you're starting again you would completely have co-location of child care. "I know as a parent, we had a public school in our street but we had to send our son to a different school that was driving distance - a short drive - but the next nearest school, because they had after school care. "That's something that people across the board feel as well - that convenience - and that's part of the productivity agenda." But first, Education Minister Jason Clare will introduce legislation giving his department powers to conduct spot checks and pull funding from childcare centres deemed to be consistently failing safety and quality standards. It's one of four priorities Mr Albanese identified for his first sitting fortnight back in parliament since his swingeing election win. From Tuesday, the government will also push forward legislation cutting student debt by 20 per cent and enshrine penalty rates into law. The fourth priority, Mr Albanese, said will be seeing Labor's 24 new members sworn in and ensuring they all participate fully towards the government's long term goals. "I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back and seeing the outcome of the election in real form," he said. "You need to deliver for people what they need in order to then have the legitimacy to push forward on longer term changes." The prime minister was feeling buoyant as he flew back from a successful six-day tour of China, where he balanced tensions over Chinese military build-up and a mutual desire to strengthen economic ties. Amid coalition criticism that he had failed to deliver enough tangible outcomes, Mr Albanese hit back that they didn't understand how patiently nurturing the relationship would pay dividends in the long-term. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor's clumsy comments that Australia should be "prepared to act" alongside the US in conflict with China over Taiwan broke with the bipartisan "One China" policy in support of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Albanese said. His eye is on a Labor dynasty to carve out a positive future for Australia in a challenging region. "One of the things we're very determined to do is to have long-term Labor government in Australia so that we can implement the long-term changes that Australia needs. "The world is changing fast and you can either shape that change or it will shape you." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a greater role for the government in childcare as he prepares to push through legislation tightening up the sector following horrifying allegations of child abuse at Melbourne early learning centres. Universal affordable childcare was identified by the prime minister during the recent federal election as the one reform he'd most want to be remembered for. But the accusations levelled against Joshua Brown, whose 70 counts of alleged abuse, including child rape, have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of government subsidies into the sector has not been met with a commensurate increase in safety and scrutiny. "Well, it reinforces why you need a stronger commonwealth role in childcare," Mr Albanese said when asked by AAP whether the case had changed his views on how his universal childcare ambition should be enacted. Commentators have criticised the current model of handing subsidies to for-profit providers, arguing the incentive to cut costs and boost margins sacrifices standards and oversight. When asked whether he envisaged the sector being run more like public schools, Mr Albanese said "we'll see how that evolves". "I think it makes sense to have co-location of childcare centres wherever possible in schools. It is just a practical thing to be done. "If you're starting again you would completely have co-location of child care. "I know as a parent, we had a public school in our street but we had to send our son to a different school that was driving distance - a short drive - but the next nearest school, because they had after school care. "That's something that people across the board feel as well - that convenience - and that's part of the productivity agenda." But first, Education Minister Jason Clare will introduce legislation giving his department powers to conduct spot checks and pull funding from childcare centres deemed to be consistently failing safety and quality standards. It's one of four priorities Mr Albanese identified for his first sitting fortnight back in parliament since his swingeing election win. From Tuesday, the government will also push forward legislation cutting student debt by 20 per cent and enshrine penalty rates into law. The fourth priority, Mr Albanese, said will be seeing Labor's 24 new members sworn in and ensuring they all participate fully towards the government's long term goals. "I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back and seeing the outcome of the election in real form," he said. "You need to deliver for people what they need in order to then have the legitimacy to push forward on longer term changes." The prime minister was feeling buoyant as he flew back from a successful six-day tour of China, where he balanced tensions over Chinese military build-up and a mutual desire to strengthen economic ties. Amid coalition criticism that he had failed to deliver enough tangible outcomes, Mr Albanese hit back that they didn't understand how patiently nurturing the relationship would pay dividends in the long-term. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor's clumsy comments that Australia should be "prepared to act" alongside the US in conflict with China over Taiwan broke with the bipartisan "One China" policy in support of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Albanese said. His eye is on a Labor dynasty to carve out a positive future for Australia in a challenging region. "One of the things we're very determined to do is to have long-term Labor government in Australia so that we can implement the long-term changes that Australia needs. "The world is changing fast and you can either shape that change or it will shape you." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a greater role for the government in childcare as he prepares to push through legislation tightening up the sector following horrifying allegations of child abuse at Melbourne early learning centres. Universal affordable childcare was identified by the prime minister during the recent federal election as the one reform he'd most want to be remembered for. But the accusations levelled against Joshua Brown, whose 70 counts of alleged abuse, including child rape, have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of government subsidies into the sector has not been met with a commensurate increase in safety and scrutiny. "Well, it reinforces why you need a stronger commonwealth role in childcare," Mr Albanese said when asked by AAP whether the case had changed his views on how his universal childcare ambition should be enacted. Commentators have criticised the current model of handing subsidies to for-profit providers, arguing the incentive to cut costs and boost margins sacrifices standards and oversight. When asked whether he envisaged the sector being run more like public schools, Mr Albanese said "we'll see how that evolves". "I think it makes sense to have co-location of childcare centres wherever possible in schools. It is just a practical thing to be done. "If you're starting again you would completely have co-location of child care. "I know as a parent, we had a public school in our street but we had to send our son to a different school that was driving distance - a short drive - but the next nearest school, because they had after school care. "That's something that people across the board feel as well - that convenience - and that's part of the productivity agenda." But first, Education Minister Jason Clare will introduce legislation giving his department powers to conduct spot checks and pull funding from childcare centres deemed to be consistently failing safety and quality standards. It's one of four priorities Mr Albanese identified for his first sitting fortnight back in parliament since his swingeing election win. From Tuesday, the government will also push forward legislation cutting student debt by 20 per cent and enshrine penalty rates into law. The fourth priority, Mr Albanese, said will be seeing Labor's 24 new members sworn in and ensuring they all participate fully towards the government's long term goals. "I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back and seeing the outcome of the election in real form," he said. "You need to deliver for people what they need in order to then have the legitimacy to push forward on longer term changes." The prime minister was feeling buoyant as he flew back from a successful six-day tour of China, where he balanced tensions over Chinese military build-up and a mutual desire to strengthen economic ties. Amid coalition criticism that he had failed to deliver enough tangible outcomes, Mr Albanese hit back that they didn't understand how patiently nurturing the relationship would pay dividends in the long-term. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor's clumsy comments that Australia should be "prepared to act" alongside the US in conflict with China over Taiwan broke with the bipartisan "One China" policy in support of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Albanese said. His eye is on a Labor dynasty to carve out a positive future for Australia in a challenging region. "One of the things we're very determined to do is to have long-term Labor government in Australia so that we can implement the long-term changes that Australia needs. "The world is changing fast and you can either shape that change or it will shape you." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a greater role for the government in childcare as he prepares to push through legislation tightening up the sector following horrifying allegations of child abuse at Melbourne early learning centres. Universal affordable childcare was identified by the prime minister during the recent federal election as the one reform he'd most want to be remembered for. But the accusations levelled against Joshua Brown, whose 70 counts of alleged abuse, including child rape, have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of government subsidies into the sector has not been met with a commensurate increase in safety and scrutiny. "Well, it reinforces why you need a stronger commonwealth role in childcare," Mr Albanese said when asked by AAP whether the case had changed his views on how his universal childcare ambition should be enacted. Commentators have criticised the current model of handing subsidies to for-profit providers, arguing the incentive to cut costs and boost margins sacrifices standards and oversight. When asked whether he envisaged the sector being run more like public schools, Mr Albanese said "we'll see how that evolves". "I think it makes sense to have co-location of childcare centres wherever possible in schools. It is just a practical thing to be done. "If you're starting again you would completely have co-location of child care. "I know as a parent, we had a public school in our street but we had to send our son to a different school that was driving distance - a short drive - but the next nearest school, because they had after school care. "That's something that people across the board feel as well - that convenience - and that's part of the productivity agenda." But first, Education Minister Jason Clare will introduce legislation giving his department powers to conduct spot checks and pull funding from childcare centres deemed to be consistently failing safety and quality standards. It's one of four priorities Mr Albanese identified for his first sitting fortnight back in parliament since his swingeing election win. From Tuesday, the government will also push forward legislation cutting student debt by 20 per cent and enshrine penalty rates into law. The fourth priority, Mr Albanese, said will be seeing Labor's 24 new members sworn in and ensuring they all participate fully towards the government's long term goals. "I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back and seeing the outcome of the election in real form," he said. "You need to deliver for people what they need in order to then have the legitimacy to push forward on longer term changes." The prime minister was feeling buoyant as he flew back from a successful six-day tour of China, where he balanced tensions over Chinese military build-up and a mutual desire to strengthen economic ties. Amid coalition criticism that he had failed to deliver enough tangible outcomes, Mr Albanese hit back that they didn't understand how patiently nurturing the relationship would pay dividends in the long-term. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor's clumsy comments that Australia should be "prepared to act" alongside the US in conflict with China over Taiwan broke with the bipartisan "One China" policy in support of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Albanese said. His eye is on a Labor dynasty to carve out a positive future for Australia in a challenging region. "One of the things we're very determined to do is to have long-term Labor government in Australia so that we can implement the long-term changes that Australia needs. "The world is changing fast and you can either shape that change or it will shape you."
