Australia news live: Sydney pro-Palestine march was ‘extraordinary', Penny Wong says; heavy fog stops harbour ferries

The Guardian

14 hours ago

Update:
Date: 2025-08-04T20:38:58.000Z
Title: Wong hails 'extraordinary' Sydney bridge march but hedges on further Labor action
Content: Australia's foreign minister was asked on the ABC's 7.30 last night if Sunday's march for Gaza on the Sydney Harbour Bridge would directly impact government policy.
'That was an extraordinary march and I think it demonstrates what we all feel,' Wong answered.
I know that Australians are feeling distressed, angry, upset, really horrified by what they're seeing in Gaza. I certainly share that distress. So do ministers in the government.
The program's host, Sarah Ferguson, pushed her: 'If it wasn't Israel, would the world's response be tougher?'
Wong referred back to the government's announcement yesterday of a further $20m in aid. 'Even the US has made its position on [the stopping of aid] very clear … they are probably the strongest ally of Israel.'
She described ongoing deaths from starvation in the Palestinian territory as 'horrific'. 'As the prime minister said, it can't be justified. It can't be defended.'
Still, Wong did defend Australia's response, saying:
We're not the central player. But what we have done is worked with others in the international community to press for, to call for aid and humanitarian support to be delivered safely, and at scale. I think you have seen quite a lot, a great deal of pressure being applied to the Israelis on that front, both publicly and beyond.
Wong refused to say directly whether Israel was 'using starvation as a weapon of war', replying: 'I think it is impossible to justify the withholding of aid from civilians.'
Update:
Date: 2025-08-04T20:33:45.000Z
Title: Welcome
Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories, and then it'll be Nick Visser to take the controls.
Penny Wong has called the Sydney Harbour Bridge pro-Palestine march as 'extraordinary' but defended the government's refusal to follow the UK, France and Canada in taking steps towards recognising Palestinian statehood. We have details of what she said on 7.30 last night coming up.
Wong's comments came as pro-Palestine groups said they wanted to build on the success of the Sydney protest. Further protests are planned on Sunday 24 August in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth with hopes more can be organised in other cities. More coming up.
Plus – Sydney has woken up to a foggy morning, which means (for now) the ferries aren't running.