Labor admits to being ‘a bit slow' on SA algal bloom
Butler, who represents the South Australian electorate of Hindmarsh, said the government had accepted the climate-induced natural disaster was a national issue, and it would need to do more to help manage a crisis that has been unfolding since February.
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Perth Now
27 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Big move as debt relief for millions touted
Sussan Ley has confirmed the opposition will back the Albanese government's signature student debt-slashing bill. It comes after Education Minister Jason Clare told Labor colleagues he was hopeful the HECS reforms would pass parliament on Tuesday. Fronting media, the Opposition Leader said she still had concerns over the Albanese government's broader response to the cost-of-living crisis, but that 'we will not oppose the government's proposal'. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says she will back in Labor's signature student debt-slashing bill. Martin Ollman / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'And I want to say this to students today – remember this moment,' Ms Ley told reporters. 'Because Anthony Albanese says life will be easier under him, costs will come down, everything will get cheaper. 'Remember this moment because, when I have spoken to young people across the country, they have talked about escalating costs, in rent, electricity, any groceries, in everything a student needs to spend money on. 'It has been really tough.' She said added that 'underpinning this student debt relief bill has been a massive cost of living crisis for Australia's students' and vowed to hold the government to account. 'But today, we agreed to not oppose the bill as it makes its way through the parliament,' Ms Ley said. 'We do care about students who are struggling with the cost of living and said we would be positive where we can be and critical where we need to be.' Labor's bill was central to its youth-focused re-election pitch. It would cut student debts by 20 per cent for some 3 million graduates, or wipe off about $5500 from the average debt. The changes would also raise the repayment threshold for student loans from $54,000 to $67,000.
Perth Now
27 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Albanese slams Israel's denial of starvation in Gaza
Anthony Albanese has strongly rejected Israel's claims that there's no starvation in Gaza as "beyond comprehension". The prime minister was responding to statements made by his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia, during a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday. "While there is a caveat on any health information which is provided by Hamas, it is Israel that has prevented journalists from getting in," he told the meeting in Canberra. It comes after Mr Albanese on Friday declared Israel's retaliation in Gaza following the October 7 attack on the nation state by Hamas had "gone beyond the world's worst fears". Then on Sunday, he warned Israel had "quite clearly" breached international law by limiting food deliveries to starving civilians in Gaza, escalating his criticism of the Jewish state. The prime minister spoke of his emotional response to images of gaunt and dying children in the Palestinian territory, while acknowledging increased airdrops of aid by Israel was "a start". "It just breaks your heart," he told ABC's Insiders on Sunday. Overnight on Monday, US President Donald Trump contradicted the Israeli prime minister by stating many people were starving in the Gaza Strip and suggested more could be done to improve humanitarian access. Mr Netanyahu has said "there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza ..." Israel's deputy ambassador to Australia Amir Meron told journalists on Monday "we don't recognise any famine or any starvation in the Gaza Strip". The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed is nearing 60,000 people, according to local health authorities. While air drops of aid have been carried out into Gaza, humanitarian agencies say they aren't enough to deal with worsening levels of starvation in the area. At the caucus meeting, Mr Albanese was also asked about Palestinian statehood. He referenced a Nelson Mandela quote, saying "it always seems impossible until it's done". The prime minister has previously said any resolution on the issue would need to guarantee that Hamas, the de facto ruling authority in Gaza, which Australia has designated a terrorist group, plays no part in the future nation. There would also need to be agreements on the rebuilding of Gaza and the West Bank, and a resolution of issues over the expansion of Israeli settlements. Recognition of Palestinian statehood has been part of Labor's national platform since 2018. Labor is facing intensifying pressure to follow France in recognising a Palestinian state at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. The Greens are calling on the government to impose the same sanctions on Israel as it had done so for Russia. The minor party is also seeking a ban on buying items that can help fund the war, pointing to sanctions on pearls and truffles for Russia.
The Advertiser
44 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Crime down but govt accused of cherry picking data
Victims of crime numbers have fallen in data released by a state that launched a controversial youth justice crackdown, with claims of cherry-picking figures. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli revealed police data for the first six months of 2025 showing victim numbers dropping by 5.7 per cent overall compared to 2024, saying the state had begun to "turn things around" under his Liberal National government. Mr Crisafulli had vowed to resign if victims of crime numbers did not fall by the end of his term during his 2024 election campaign. Data released on Tuesday revealed victim numbers across 12 offences including murder, assault, robbery, coercive control, break and enter and stealing cars had dropped from 75,084 to 72,588, contributing to the overall 5.7 per cent decrease. Yet the figures released by the LNP government did not include "other theft". "This is a very, very small step ... but it is proof that if you do back the police, if you do put in place those resources, if you do focus on early intervention, you can turn things around," the premier said. Data revealed break-ins were 12 per cent lower in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year. Overall there were 23,299 victims of break and enters statewide between January and June 2024, dropping to 21,042 this year. Robbery victims fell to 1077 this year compared to 1211 in the same period of 2024, marking a 13.2 per cent drop. More than 9500 Queenslanders had cars stolen in the first half of 2024 compared to 9213 in 2025, showing a 6.4 per cent decrease. The Labor opposition slammed the lack of data on "other theft", saying it meant thousands of Queenslanders were no longer considered victims under the LNP government. "His victim data isn't worth the paper that it's printed on because he's cut corners, cherry-picked, and removed offences that should matter," opposition leader Steven Miles said. "Victims of other theft could be the local independent grocer who has had stock swiped from their shelves, or someone who's had items stolen from their car." Mr Crisafulli defended not including "other theft", saying the offence may not relate to a person. "I wouldn't be standing here saying to you that someone who's pinched a marker from the side of the road, that's not a victim ... it's a crime," he said. The LNP government won the election on a tough-on-crime approach, introducing its controversial "adult crime, adult time" legislation that ensures youth offenders face mandatory life sentences for murder and manslaughter. It also doubled the maximum sentences for other offences, increasing jail terms for break and enter, car thefts, sexual assault, attempted murder and rape. However, the state government is yet to release its expert advice on the laws that have drawn criticism from youth advocates who claim it breaches human rights. The state budget revealed the government was spending $5.2 billion over the next four years on its crime crackdown. Victims of crime numbers have fallen in data released by a state that launched a controversial youth justice crackdown, with claims of cherry-picking figures. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli revealed police data for the first six months of 2025 showing victim numbers dropping by 5.7 per cent overall compared to 2024, saying the state had begun to "turn things around" under his Liberal National government. Mr Crisafulli had vowed to resign if victims of crime numbers did not fall by the end of his term during his 2024 election campaign. Data released on Tuesday revealed victim numbers across 12 offences including murder, assault, robbery, coercive control, break and enter and stealing cars had dropped from 75,084 to 72,588, contributing to the overall 5.7 per cent decrease. Yet the figures released by the LNP government did not include "other theft". "This is a very, very small step ... but it is proof that if you do back the police, if you do put in place those resources, if you do focus on early intervention, you can turn things around," the premier said. Data revealed break-ins were 12 per cent lower in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year. Overall there were 23,299 victims of break and enters statewide between January and June 2024, dropping to 21,042 this year. Robbery victims fell to 1077 this year compared to 1211 in the same period of 2024, marking a 13.2 per cent drop. More than 9500 Queenslanders had cars stolen in the first half of 2024 compared to 9213 in 2025, showing a 6.4 per cent decrease. The Labor opposition slammed the lack of data on "other theft", saying it meant thousands of Queenslanders were no longer considered victims under the LNP government. "His victim data isn't worth the paper that it's printed on because he's cut corners, cherry-picked, and removed offences that should matter," opposition leader Steven Miles said. "Victims of other theft could be the local independent grocer who has had stock swiped from their shelves, or someone who's had items stolen from their car." Mr Crisafulli defended not including "other theft", saying the offence may not relate to a person. "I wouldn't be standing here saying to you that someone who's pinched a marker from the side of the road, that's not a victim ... it's a crime," he said. The LNP government won the election on a tough-on-crime approach, introducing its controversial "adult crime, adult time" legislation that ensures youth offenders face mandatory life sentences for murder and manslaughter. It also doubled the maximum sentences for other offences, increasing jail terms for break and enter, car thefts, sexual assault, attempted murder and rape. However, the state government is yet to release its expert advice on the laws that have drawn criticism from youth advocates who claim it breaches human rights. The state budget revealed the government was spending $5.2 billion over the next four years on its crime crackdown. Victims of crime numbers have fallen in data released by a state that launched a controversial youth justice crackdown, with claims of cherry-picking figures. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli revealed police data for the first six months of 2025 showing victim numbers dropping by 5.7 per cent overall compared to 2024, saying the state had begun to "turn things around" under his Liberal National government. Mr Crisafulli had vowed to resign if victims of crime numbers did not fall by the end of his term during his 2024 election campaign. Data released on Tuesday revealed victim numbers across 12 offences including murder, assault, robbery, coercive control, break and enter and stealing cars had dropped from 75,084 to 72,588, contributing to the overall 5.7 per cent decrease. Yet the figures released by the LNP government did not include "other theft". "This is a very, very small step ... but it is proof that if you do back the police, if you do put in place those resources, if you do focus on early intervention, you can turn things around," the premier said. Data revealed break-ins were 12 per cent lower in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year. Overall there were 23,299 victims of break and enters statewide between January and June 2024, dropping to 21,042 this year. Robbery victims fell to 1077 this year compared to 1211 in the same period of 2024, marking a 13.2 per cent drop. More than 9500 Queenslanders had cars stolen in the first half of 2024 compared to 9213 in 2025, showing a 6.4 per cent decrease. The Labor opposition slammed the lack of data on "other theft", saying it meant thousands of Queenslanders were no longer considered victims under the LNP government. "His victim data isn't worth the paper that it's printed on because he's cut corners, cherry-picked, and removed offences that should matter," opposition leader Steven Miles said. "Victims of other theft could be the local independent grocer who has had stock swiped from their shelves, or someone who's had items stolen from their car." Mr Crisafulli defended not including "other theft", saying the offence may not relate to a person. "I wouldn't be standing here saying to you that someone who's pinched a marker from the side of the road, that's not a victim ... it's a crime," he said. The LNP government won the election on a tough-on-crime approach, introducing its controversial "adult crime, adult time" legislation that ensures youth offenders face mandatory life sentences for murder and manslaughter. It also doubled the maximum sentences for other offences, increasing jail terms for break and enter, car thefts, sexual assault, attempted murder and rape. However, the state government is yet to release its expert advice on the laws that have drawn criticism from youth advocates who claim it breaches human rights. The state budget revealed the government was spending $5.2 billion over the next four years on its crime crackdown. Victims of crime numbers have fallen in data released by a state that launched a controversial youth justice crackdown, with claims of cherry-picking figures. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli revealed police data for the first six months of 2025 showing victim numbers dropping by 5.7 per cent overall compared to 2024, saying the state had begun to "turn things around" under his Liberal National government. Mr Crisafulli had vowed to resign if victims of crime numbers did not fall by the end of his term during his 2024 election campaign. Data released on Tuesday revealed victim numbers across 12 offences including murder, assault, robbery, coercive control, break and enter and stealing cars had dropped from 75,084 to 72,588, contributing to the overall 5.7 per cent decrease. Yet the figures released by the LNP government did not include "other theft". "This is a very, very small step ... but it is proof that if you do back the police, if you do put in place those resources, if you do focus on early intervention, you can turn things around," the premier said. Data revealed break-ins were 12 per cent lower in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year. Overall there were 23,299 victims of break and enters statewide between January and June 2024, dropping to 21,042 this year. Robbery victims fell to 1077 this year compared to 1211 in the same period of 2024, marking a 13.2 per cent drop. More than 9500 Queenslanders had cars stolen in the first half of 2024 compared to 9213 in 2025, showing a 6.4 per cent decrease. The Labor opposition slammed the lack of data on "other theft", saying it meant thousands of Queenslanders were no longer considered victims under the LNP government. "His victim data isn't worth the paper that it's printed on because he's cut corners, cherry-picked, and removed offences that should matter," opposition leader Steven Miles said. "Victims of other theft could be the local independent grocer who has had stock swiped from their shelves, or someone who's had items stolen from their car." Mr Crisafulli defended not including "other theft", saying the offence may not relate to a person. "I wouldn't be standing here saying to you that someone who's pinched a marker from the side of the road, that's not a victim ... it's a crime," he said. The LNP government won the election on a tough-on-crime approach, introducing its controversial "adult crime, adult time" legislation that ensures youth offenders face mandatory life sentences for murder and manslaughter. It also doubled the maximum sentences for other offences, increasing jail terms for break and enter, car thefts, sexual assault, attempted murder and rape. However, the state government is yet to release its expert advice on the laws that have drawn criticism from youth advocates who claim it breaches human rights. The state budget revealed the government was spending $5.2 billion over the next four years on its crime crackdown.
