‘Not at all on track': Labor's emissions targets questioned
'Around 53 per cent of the nation's electricity is still coming from coal, so at this point, it is very hard to see how Labor is going to meet its 2030 emissions reduction target,' Ms Power told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
'We are not at all on track; we are well behind, and ultimately, we need some transparency from the government.
'Australians are forking out more for their energy bills during a cost-of-living crisis.'
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Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Terrible lapse of judgement': John Howard blasts PM for not having yet visited US President Donald Trump in Washington
Former prime minister John Howard has called out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over not having yet visited US President Donald Trump in Washington, labelling it 'terrible lapse of judgement' on Mr Albanese's behalf. Mr Albanese begins a six-day trip to China on Saturday at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang, with talks during the bilateral meeting set to cover trade, tourism, and global and regional issues. The trip, which marks the prime minister's fourth official visit to China, comes amid ongoing criticism directed towards Mr Albanese for not having met with Mr Trump since he was sworn in as the 47th US President in January. Speaking with Sky News, Mr Howard has described the current geopolitical environment as 'unstable' and insisted questions need to be asked about the state of the Australia-United States relationship. In light of Mr Albanese's China visit, Mr Howard said it is 'very important' for Australia to maintain relations with both China and the US, adding that he thought the prime minister's trip to Beijing was 'a good thing'. 'But I think that it's very bad thing, very bad thing, that he's still not had a face-to-face meeting with the new American president. Now that is a terrible lapse of judgement and a bad ordering of priorities,' Mr Howard said. 'I'm not saying that he should insult or ignore the Chinese, far from it... but heavens above. Trump has been the President of the United States since the 20th of January this year, and our prime minister hasn't had a meeting with him.' In light of the cancelled meeting between Mr Albanese and Mr Trump that had been set to go ahead at G7 Summit last month before the US President left the event early, Mr Howard outlined what he said he would do if he was in Mr Albanese's position. 'You just ring up and say, 'I want to come and see you in Washington',' Mr Howard said. '... I used to go to see President Bush, and before that President Clinton, I had good relations with both of them, and I just think it's poor form (from Mr Albanese) to say the least.' The former prime minister then questioned whether Mr Albanese was possibly 'scared of meeting' the US President. 'Is he scared of meeting him? I don't know,' Mr Howard said. Mr Howards comments come after more details were revealed this week about a meeting between Mr Trump and Australia's ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd that took place at the Trump International Golf Course in Florida on January 11. The 'brief' face-to-face encounter occurred just days before Mr Tump's Presidential Inauguration, and answers released on notice from Senate Estimates said a diplomatic cable was sent to Canberra after the meeting. The scrapped talks at the G7 summit, which had been expected to cover key issues including AUKUS and US tariffs on Australian exports, involved months of work for Mr Rudd in securing the meeting.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Protests, criticisms of anti-Semitism report continue
Pro-Palestine protesters have marched in small numbers in the wake of a contentious plan to combat anti-Semitism including the assertion funds should be stripped from non-compliant arts bodies. The recommendation to axe support for publicly funded institutions and festivals that promote or fail to effectively deal with hate speech features in a report by Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal. The federal government is considering the advice in a bid to combat growing discrimination against Jewish Australians. Criticism of the report has also focused on Ms Segal's recommendation Australia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism, some arguing that it conflates the notion with criticism of Israel and Zionism. While "unequivocally" condemning anti-Semitism, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils says it is deeply concerned by the report. "This plan, drafted by a politically appointed, unelected official, risks undermining free expression, marginalising already vulnerable communities and conflating legitimate criticism of the State of Israel and its policies with anti-Semitism," it said on Saturday. "Combating anti-Semitism is a shared responsibility but it cannot come at the cost of justice, free speech and the equal treatment of all communities," council president Rateb Jneid added. Racial justice organisation Democracy in Colour said the swift establishment of resources, recommendations and government attention for combating anti-Semitism stood in stark contrast to responses to other forms of racism. The "selective urgency" exposed a "hierarchy of racism that continues to operate within our democratic institutions". "The government's response pattern reveals a concerning truth: some forms of racism receive red-carpet treatment while others are relegated to performative gestures and token appointments," director Noura Mansour said. About 50 diehard protesters gathered in central Sydney on Saturday afternoon in opposition to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and what they argue is Australia's wrongful participation in it. The mostly silent action, outside the offices of defence contractor BAE Systems, continued months of similar demonstrations which have been staged in capital cities at weekends. A larger protest has been scheduled for Sunday in the city's Hyde Park and another will go ahead in Melbourne. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday steps were already being taken to silence the behaviour Ms Segal had identified, pointing to a decision to block controversial US rapper Kanye West from entering the country after he released a song titled Heil Hitler. "We screen people ... when they apply for visas it's something that we make sure that we represent Australia's national interests," he told reporters. Ms Segal said criticisms of her findings misunderstood the Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism. "(It) clearly says if Israel is criticised, that's absolutely fine - and indeed, so many Israelis are criticising the policies of their own government," she told ABC Radio. Several other Jewish groups called for her recommendations to be adopted in full. They include embedding Holocaust education into school curriculums and strengthening legislation against hateful conduct, in addition to terminating or withholding funds from universities, broadcasters and cultural institutions that fail to address anti-Semitism. Ms Segal's report found threats, vandalism and physical violence against Jewish Australians tripled between October 2023 and September 2024. Australia's government-appointed envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, says he will soon provide "comprehensive" recommendations to the prime minister. Pro-Palestine protesters have marched in small numbers in the wake of a contentious plan to combat anti-Semitism including the assertion funds should be stripped from non-compliant arts bodies. The recommendation to axe support for publicly funded institutions and festivals that promote or fail to effectively deal with hate speech features in a report by Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal. The federal government is considering the advice in a bid to combat growing discrimination against Jewish Australians. Criticism of the report has also focused on Ms Segal's recommendation Australia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism, some arguing that it conflates the notion with criticism of Israel and Zionism. While "unequivocally" condemning anti-Semitism, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils says it is deeply concerned by the report. "This plan, drafted by a politically appointed, unelected official, risks undermining free expression, marginalising already vulnerable communities and conflating legitimate criticism of the State of Israel and its policies with anti-Semitism," it said on Saturday. "Combating anti-Semitism is a shared responsibility but it cannot come at the cost of justice, free speech and the equal treatment of all communities," council president Rateb Jneid added. Racial justice organisation Democracy in Colour said the swift establishment of resources, recommendations and government attention for combating anti-Semitism stood in stark contrast to responses to other forms of racism. The "selective urgency" exposed a "hierarchy of racism that continues to operate within our democratic institutions". "The government's response pattern reveals a concerning truth: some forms of racism receive red-carpet treatment while others are relegated to performative gestures and token appointments," director Noura Mansour said. About 50 diehard protesters gathered in central Sydney on Saturday afternoon in opposition to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and what they argue is Australia's wrongful participation in it. The mostly silent action, outside the offices of defence contractor BAE Systems, continued months of similar demonstrations which have been staged in capital cities at weekends. A larger protest has been scheduled for Sunday in the city's Hyde Park and another will go ahead in Melbourne. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday steps were already being taken to silence the behaviour Ms Segal had identified, pointing to a decision to block controversial US rapper Kanye West from entering the country after he released a song titled Heil Hitler. "We screen people ... when they apply for visas it's something that we make sure that we represent Australia's national interests," he told reporters. Ms Segal said criticisms of her findings misunderstood the Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism. "(It) clearly says if Israel is criticised, that's absolutely fine - and indeed, so many Israelis are criticising the policies of their own government," she told ABC Radio. Several other Jewish groups called for her recommendations to be adopted in full. They include embedding Holocaust education into school curriculums and strengthening legislation against hateful conduct, in addition to terminating or withholding funds from universities, broadcasters and cultural institutions that fail to address anti-Semitism. Ms Segal's report found threats, vandalism and physical violence against Jewish Australians tripled between October 2023 and September 2024. Australia's government-appointed envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, says he will soon provide "comprehensive" recommendations to the prime minister. Pro-Palestine protesters have marched in small numbers in the wake of a contentious plan to combat anti-Semitism including the assertion funds should be stripped from non-compliant arts bodies. The recommendation to axe support for publicly funded institutions and festivals that promote or fail to effectively deal with hate speech features in a report by Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal. The federal government is considering the advice in a bid to combat growing discrimination against Jewish Australians. Criticism of the report has also focused on Ms Segal's recommendation Australia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism, some arguing that it conflates the notion with criticism of Israel and Zionism. While "unequivocally" condemning anti-Semitism, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils says it is deeply concerned by the report. "This plan, drafted by a politically appointed, unelected official, risks undermining free expression, marginalising already vulnerable communities and conflating legitimate criticism of the State of Israel and its policies with anti-Semitism," it said on Saturday. "Combating anti-Semitism is a shared responsibility but it cannot come at the cost of justice, free speech and the equal treatment of all communities," council president Rateb Jneid added. Racial justice organisation Democracy in Colour said the swift establishment of resources, recommendations and government attention for combating anti-Semitism stood in stark contrast to responses to other forms of racism. The "selective urgency" exposed a "hierarchy of racism that continues to operate within our democratic institutions". "The government's response pattern reveals a concerning truth: some forms of racism receive red-carpet treatment while others are relegated to performative gestures and token appointments," director Noura Mansour said. About 50 diehard protesters gathered in central Sydney on Saturday afternoon in opposition to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and what they argue is Australia's wrongful participation in it. The mostly silent action, outside the offices of defence contractor BAE Systems, continued months of similar demonstrations which have been staged in capital cities at weekends. A larger protest has been scheduled for Sunday in the city's Hyde Park and another will go ahead in Melbourne. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday steps were already being taken to silence the behaviour Ms Segal had identified, pointing to a decision to block controversial US rapper Kanye West from entering the country after he released a song titled Heil Hitler. "We screen people ... when they apply for visas it's something that we make sure that we represent Australia's national interests," he told reporters. Ms Segal said criticisms of her findings misunderstood the Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism. "(It) clearly says if Israel is criticised, that's absolutely fine - and indeed, so many Israelis are criticising the policies of their own government," she told ABC Radio. Several other Jewish groups called for her recommendations to be adopted in full. They include embedding Holocaust education into school curriculums and strengthening legislation against hateful conduct, in addition to terminating or withholding funds from universities, broadcasters and cultural institutions that fail to address anti-Semitism. Ms Segal's report found threats, vandalism and physical violence against Jewish Australians tripled between October 2023 and September 2024. Australia's government-appointed envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, says he will soon provide "comprehensive" recommendations to the prime minister. Pro-Palestine protesters have marched in small numbers in the wake of a contentious plan to combat anti-Semitism including the assertion funds should be stripped from non-compliant arts bodies. The recommendation to axe support for publicly funded institutions and festivals that promote or fail to effectively deal with hate speech features in a report by Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal. The federal government is considering the advice in a bid to combat growing discrimination against Jewish Australians. Criticism of the report has also focused on Ms Segal's recommendation Australia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism, some arguing that it conflates the notion with criticism of Israel and Zionism. While "unequivocally" condemning anti-Semitism, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils says it is deeply concerned by the report. "This plan, drafted by a politically appointed, unelected official, risks undermining free expression, marginalising already vulnerable communities and conflating legitimate criticism of the State of Israel and its policies with anti-Semitism," it said on Saturday. "Combating anti-Semitism is a shared responsibility but it cannot come at the cost of justice, free speech and the equal treatment of all communities," council president Rateb Jneid added. Racial justice organisation Democracy in Colour said the swift establishment of resources, recommendations and government attention for combating anti-Semitism stood in stark contrast to responses to other forms of racism. The "selective urgency" exposed a "hierarchy of racism that continues to operate within our democratic institutions". "The government's response pattern reveals a concerning truth: some forms of racism receive red-carpet treatment while others are relegated to performative gestures and token appointments," director Noura Mansour said. About 50 diehard protesters gathered in central Sydney on Saturday afternoon in opposition to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and what they argue is Australia's wrongful participation in it. The mostly silent action, outside the offices of defence contractor BAE Systems, continued months of similar demonstrations which have been staged in capital cities at weekends. A larger protest has been scheduled for Sunday in the city's Hyde Park and another will go ahead in Melbourne. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday steps were already being taken to silence the behaviour Ms Segal had identified, pointing to a decision to block controversial US rapper Kanye West from entering the country after he released a song titled Heil Hitler. "We screen people ... when they apply for visas it's something that we make sure that we represent Australia's national interests," he told reporters. Ms Segal said criticisms of her findings misunderstood the Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism. "(It) clearly says if Israel is criticised, that's absolutely fine - and indeed, so many Israelis are criticising the policies of their own government," she told ABC Radio. Several other Jewish groups called for her recommendations to be adopted in full. They include embedding Holocaust education into school curriculums and strengthening legislation against hateful conduct, in addition to terminating or withholding funds from universities, broadcasters and cultural institutions that fail to address anti-Semitism. Ms Segal's report found threats, vandalism and physical violence against Jewish Australians tripled between October 2023 and September 2024. Australia's government-appointed envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, says he will soon provide "comprehensive" recommendations to the prime minister.
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Website, business name-slanging in election campaign
Liberal and Labor leaders have traded barbs over a website address and a signature policy business name as Tasmania's election campaign enters its final week. The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, some six weeks after minority Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, have governed in minority since 2023 with voter surveys pointing to another hung parliament. Former Labor premier Paul Lennon has thrown a spanner in the works of the Liberals by registering the business name TasInsure. TasInsure is the Liberals' self-described signature campaign pledge to create a state-owned insurer. The Liberals returned serve somewhat, setting up a website at after the Labor-named pledge to create five government-run bulk-billed GP clinics. Mr Rockliff, whose party has committed to matching Labor's TassieDoc plan, denied his party was playing political games. "(The website) is simply explaining a policy," he told reporters on Saturday. Mr Lennon told The Australian he registered TasInsure to expose the fact it wasn't a serious proposal. Labor leader Dean Winter said he wasn't concerned about the Liberals claiming because information would be available on official health channels if he was elected. He said Mr Rockliff had gone to the trouble of making TasInsure merchandise without providing costs or any modelling about why the proposal stacks up. "What Jeremy Rockliff has been doing is running around with hats and posters telling people about policy that has no detail to it," Mr Winter said. The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff, put forward by Labor and supported by the Greens and three crossbench members, was critical of his budget management. Tasmania's net debt is set to more than double to almost $11 billion in 2028/29, according to the most recent budget. An increased number of voters have already made up their minds ahead of the election, Tasmania's second in two years and fourth in seven years. Almost 54,000 people have cast pre-poll votes heading into the final week of campaigning, more than double the 26,000 figure at the equivalent point in 2024. The Liberals hold 14 seats and Labor 10 in the state's 35-seat lower house. Liberal and Labor leaders have traded barbs over a website address and a signature policy business name as Tasmania's election campaign enters its final week. The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, some six weeks after minority Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, have governed in minority since 2023 with voter surveys pointing to another hung parliament. Former Labor premier Paul Lennon has thrown a spanner in the works of the Liberals by registering the business name TasInsure. TasInsure is the Liberals' self-described signature campaign pledge to create a state-owned insurer. The Liberals returned serve somewhat, setting up a website at after the Labor-named pledge to create five government-run bulk-billed GP clinics. Mr Rockliff, whose party has committed to matching Labor's TassieDoc plan, denied his party was playing political games. "(The website) is simply explaining a policy," he told reporters on Saturday. Mr Lennon told The Australian he registered TasInsure to expose the fact it wasn't a serious proposal. Labor leader Dean Winter said he wasn't concerned about the Liberals claiming because information would be available on official health channels if he was elected. He said Mr Rockliff had gone to the trouble of making TasInsure merchandise without providing costs or any modelling about why the proposal stacks up. "What Jeremy Rockliff has been doing is running around with hats and posters telling people about policy that has no detail to it," Mr Winter said. The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff, put forward by Labor and supported by the Greens and three crossbench members, was critical of his budget management. Tasmania's net debt is set to more than double to almost $11 billion in 2028/29, according to the most recent budget. An increased number of voters have already made up their minds ahead of the election, Tasmania's second in two years and fourth in seven years. Almost 54,000 people have cast pre-poll votes heading into the final week of campaigning, more than double the 26,000 figure at the equivalent point in 2024. The Liberals hold 14 seats and Labor 10 in the state's 35-seat lower house. Liberal and Labor leaders have traded barbs over a website address and a signature policy business name as Tasmania's election campaign enters its final week. The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, some six weeks after minority Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, have governed in minority since 2023 with voter surveys pointing to another hung parliament. Former Labor premier Paul Lennon has thrown a spanner in the works of the Liberals by registering the business name TasInsure. TasInsure is the Liberals' self-described signature campaign pledge to create a state-owned insurer. The Liberals returned serve somewhat, setting up a website at after the Labor-named pledge to create five government-run bulk-billed GP clinics. Mr Rockliff, whose party has committed to matching Labor's TassieDoc plan, denied his party was playing political games. "(The website) is simply explaining a policy," he told reporters on Saturday. Mr Lennon told The Australian he registered TasInsure to expose the fact it wasn't a serious proposal. Labor leader Dean Winter said he wasn't concerned about the Liberals claiming because information would be available on official health channels if he was elected. He said Mr Rockliff had gone to the trouble of making TasInsure merchandise without providing costs or any modelling about why the proposal stacks up. "What Jeremy Rockliff has been doing is running around with hats and posters telling people about policy that has no detail to it," Mr Winter said. The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff, put forward by Labor and supported by the Greens and three crossbench members, was critical of his budget management. Tasmania's net debt is set to more than double to almost $11 billion in 2028/29, according to the most recent budget. An increased number of voters have already made up their minds ahead of the election, Tasmania's second in two years and fourth in seven years. Almost 54,000 people have cast pre-poll votes heading into the final week of campaigning, more than double the 26,000 figure at the equivalent point in 2024. The Liberals hold 14 seats and Labor 10 in the state's 35-seat lower house. Liberal and Labor leaders have traded barbs over a website address and a signature policy business name as Tasmania's election campaign enters its final week. The island state is heading to the polls on July 19, some six weeks after minority Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, have governed in minority since 2023 with voter surveys pointing to another hung parliament. Former Labor premier Paul Lennon has thrown a spanner in the works of the Liberals by registering the business name TasInsure. TasInsure is the Liberals' self-described signature campaign pledge to create a state-owned insurer. The Liberals returned serve somewhat, setting up a website at after the Labor-named pledge to create five government-run bulk-billed GP clinics. Mr Rockliff, whose party has committed to matching Labor's TassieDoc plan, denied his party was playing political games. "(The website) is simply explaining a policy," he told reporters on Saturday. Mr Lennon told The Australian he registered TasInsure to expose the fact it wasn't a serious proposal. Labor leader Dean Winter said he wasn't concerned about the Liberals claiming because information would be available on official health channels if he was elected. He said Mr Rockliff had gone to the trouble of making TasInsure merchandise without providing costs or any modelling about why the proposal stacks up. "What Jeremy Rockliff has been doing is running around with hats and posters telling people about policy that has no detail to it," Mr Winter said. The no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff, put forward by Labor and supported by the Greens and three crossbench members, was critical of his budget management. Tasmania's net debt is set to more than double to almost $11 billion in 2028/29, according to the most recent budget. An increased number of voters have already made up their minds ahead of the election, Tasmania's second in two years and fourth in seven years. Almost 54,000 people have cast pre-poll votes heading into the final week of campaigning, more than double the 26,000 figure at the equivalent point in 2024. The Liberals hold 14 seats and Labor 10 in the state's 35-seat lower house.
