BREAKING NEWS Nat Barr's terrifying 'war' question for Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles: 'Very concerned'
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles has faced tough questions from Sunrise host Nat Barr over whether Australia would get involved in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
Mr Marles backed Israel's right to defend itself while calling for calm amid rising international military activity.
'We very much understand Israel's right to defend itself. We also understand the threat that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program represents to the peace and stability of the Middle East — the peace and stability of the Middle East and the world.
Barr pressed continued to press Marles on Australia's position.
'We have the UK sending Royal Air Force jets into the Middle East. Our allies are on a war footing. Where does that leave us?'
He added that Australia's efforts are currently focused on diplomatic solutions and preparing for assisted departures of Australians in the area.
'We want to see a de-escalation here. We do understand what is in play. We are very concerned about the prospect for this escalating into a wider conflict.
'There are many Australians in both Iran and Israel, and obviously, we are very focused on them right now.
Pressed again on whether Australia would support a US-led military response, Marles declined to speculate.
'If Trump asks for military support from Australia, what would we do,' Barr asked.
'I'm not about to speculate on what may or may not happen there. Actually, I take America at face value, which is that their posture right now is defensive in nature — it's about defending their people and assets within the region.
'Right now, our call is for a de-escalation, to seek diplomacy and dialogue, and our preparations right now are very much focused on providing for assisted departures of Australians who are in the region.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Israeli embassy 'deeply disturbed' by Bob Vylan's 'death to the IDF' Glastonbury chant
The Israeli embassy has said it's "deeply disturbed" by chants of "death to the IDF" at Glastonbury - as police also investigate the incident. Video shows one of the members of Bob Vylan shouting the slogan into the mic and some of the crowd joining in. The duo were performing ahead of a performance by Kneecap, the Irish act who the prime minister said should be ditched from the line-up. "The Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom is deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival," a statement said. It said slogans like Saturday's chant "advocate for the dismantling of the State of Israel". The post on X added: "When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence." Avon and Somerset Police said they are looking at whether a criminal offence was committed. Bob Vylan also performed in front of a screen reading quoting a claim that Israel's actions in Gaza amount to genocide. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to BBC boss Tim Davie for an "urgent explanation" about what due diligence it carried out into Bob Vylan. A spokesman said the government strongly condemned the "threatening comments" by the group, whose X bio describes them as a "punk/rap/alt thing". A BBC statement said: "Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. "During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. "We have no plans to make the performance available on demand." Tory leader Kemi Badenoch re-posted a clip of the incident and called it "grotesque". "Violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked," she said on X. A statement from Glastonbury Festival said it "does not condone hate speech or incitement to violence of any kind from its performers". Irish group Kneecap followed Bob Vylan - with the broadcaster not carrying their performance live amid concern over what they might do or say. However, it's understood their show will be made available on demand after a review. One of its members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, was charged with a terror offence in May after being accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror group Hezbollah at a gig. Bandmate Naoise O Caireallain told the packed Glastonbury crowd they should "start a riot outside the courts", before clarifying: "No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine." O hAnnaidh - also known as Mo Chara - wore a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf for Saturday's set and told fans he was a "free man"
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Tel Aviv blasts BBC for failing to cut hour-long live broadcast of punk band's vile outburst - as police face demands to arrest Bob Vylan singer who led 'death to Israeli soldiers' chants at Glastonbury
The BBC and Glastonbury provoked outrage tonight when a pro-Palestine punk act called for the death of Israeli soldiers during a live broadcast from the festival. In appalling scenes condemned by the British and Israeli governments, the lead singer of the duo Bob Vylan led a crowd of thousands in a vile chant of 'death, death to the IDF' – the Israel Defence Forces. The singer, who keeps his identity secret, also led a chant of 'free, free Palestine ', and declared 'from the river to the sea Palestine… will be free' – regarded by many in the Jewish community as a call for Israel's elimination. The entire episode was live-streamed on the BBC iPlayer. The corporation was lambasted for failing to cut the broadcast immediately after the anti-Semitic chanting. Shockingly, its live stream continued for another 40 minutes until the end of Bob Vylan's performance. The incident prompted calls for the band members to be arrested over claims they had incited violence. Avon and Somerset Police last night said they were examining video evidence and investigating if any offence had been committed. The broadcast plunged the BBC into a major crisis with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy demanding 'an urgent explanation' from BBC director-general Tim Davie into 'what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance'. A government spokesman said: 'We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.' The singer, who keeps his identity secret, also led a chant of 'free, free Palestine ', and declared 'from the river to the sea Palestine… will be free' – regarded by many in the Jewish community as a call for Israel's elimination Lord Ian Austin – the Government's trade envoy to Israel – said: 'The police should investigate as a matter of urgency and, if necessary, arrest the band members.' Tory MP Greg Stafford said: 'If someone can be jailed for inciting racial hatred on social media, then surely this band should be investigated for inciting violence at the very least. Somerset Police should arrest them and carry out an investigation immediately.' Sharren Haskel, Israel's deputy foreign minister, also slammed the performance. She told The Mail on Sunday: 'I condemn the BBC for continuing to live-stream anti-Israel hate speech from Glastonbury. 'What do you think the BBC would have done had a performer been shouting anti-Muslim or far-Right hate speech? They would have pulled the feed. 'But because the target is Israel – let's be honest, because it's Jews – it's tolerated, even broadcast. This is clearly incitement.' The BBC later pulled the offending incident from its footage on iPlayer. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch branded the comments 'grotesque', adding: 'Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. The cultural establishment needs to wake up to the fact this isn't protest, it's incitement.' Danny Cohen, former director of BBC Television, said: 'That something like this might happen could easily have been foreseen by the BBC and measures could have been taken to prevent its broadcast. 'This is a very serious failure, and further evidence that BBC management are blind to their responsibility to Britain's Jewish community.' Bob Vylan, who formed eight years ago in London, refuse to reveal their real names because of what they call the 'surveillance state'. Instead the singer calls himself Bobby Vylan and the drummer Bobbie Vylan. Addressing the crowd of around 30,000, Bobby said he had to be 'careful' because their performance was 'live on the BBC'. He then, however, led the 'free, free Palestine' chant, then changing it to 'death, death to the IDF'. 'Hell, yeah, from the river to the sea Palestine must, will be, Inshallah, it will be free,' he added. The singer also backed controversial Northern Irish band Kneecap, who were following them on the West Holts stage, by describing music executives who called for the group to be banned as 'Zionists '. In another hugely embarrassing blow for the BBC, he also used the highly offensive c-word. May Golan, Israel's minister for social equality, said: 'Perhaps someone should tell that anti-Semitic band what happened to the hundreds of innocent people at Israel's Nova music festival who were murdered, raped, butchered, and kidnapped by savage monsters.' The BBC decided not to stream Kneecap live. Instead an edited version of the performance was due to be put on the iPlayer. It came ten days after Kneecap member Liam O'hAnnaidh, 27, appeared in court charged with a terror offence, prompting the Prime Minister to say it was 'not appropriate' for the band to be playing Glastonbury. Kneecap started their performance this afternoon by chanting 'F*** Keir Starmer'. They also spoke out in support of Palestine Action, which the government wants to proscribe as a terror group. Glastonbury had said all were welcome at the festival but added it 'does not condone hate speech or incitement to violence of any kind from its performers.' Bob Vylan is the UK's self-proclaimed 'most violent boy band' whose singer attended his first pro-Palestine protest at the age of 15 and whose music fuses punk, grime and hip hop Bob Vylan is the UK's self-proclaimed 'most violent boy band' whose singer attended his first pro-Palestine protest at the age of 15. At Glastonbury today, Bobby Vylan said: 'We're seeing the UK and the US be complicit in war crimes and genocide happening over there to the Palestinian people... Anybody with any moral compass can surely see that what is happening over there in Gaza is a tragedy. Former Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker, 64, also issued a call to 'Free Palestine' during an appearance at a discussion event at Glastonbury yesterday.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Hamas chief 'who masterminded October 7 attack' is killed by Israeli airstrike, IDF say
The Hamas chief allegedly behind the attacks on October 7 has been killed by an Israeli airstrike, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). In a post on X, the IDF reported that it 'eliminated' Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa - 'one of the founders of Hamas' military wing' in a targeted airstrike on the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza. 'Issa led Hamas' force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre,' the post said. 'As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial & naval attacks against Israelis. 'The IDF & ISA will continue to locate and eliminate all terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre,' they added. The post on X is accompanied by a picture of Al-Issa and claims he is 'one of the last remaining senior Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
