Allegra Spender wants ‘urgent explanation’ over pro-Palestine demonstration in Sydney
Independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender has labelled last night’s pro-Palestine rally in Sydney as “abhorrent” and is seeking an “urgent explanation” of how it was “allowed to happen”.
Writing on social media, she said:
The scenes and chanting outside the Opera House last night are abhorrent. At a time when there should be solidarity with our Jewish community, they have been subject to appalling abuse.
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I am seeking an urgent explanation of how this was allowed to happen.
The scenes and chanting outside the Opera House last night are abhorrent. At a time when there should be solidarity with our Jewish community, they have been subject to appalling abuse.
I am seeking an urgent explanation of how this was allowed to happen. pic.twitter.com/ofYenjW1VW— Allegra Spender (@spenderallegra) October 9, 2023
You can read more about last night’s rally below:
Key events
Penny Wong was asked to respond to comments made by opposition leader Peter Dutton yesterday that it is “completely and utterly the wrong time” to call for restraint from Israel in responding to the Hamas attacks.
Yesterday, Dutton said:
When people talk about Israel having to show restraint, it’s completely and utterly the wrong time for that sort of language.
Speaking to ABC RN, Wong responded:
I found it somewhat extraordinary that a senior Australian politician would actually suggest that Australia arguing or advocating for civilian lives to be particularly something wrong.
Earlier in the interview she also argued Dutton “always wants to find a political difference, doesn’t he”.
– with Daniel Hurst
Penny Wong is asked about some anti-semitic comments made by people at the pro-Palestine rally in Sydney last night:
I think two things. The first thing I would say is there’s no place for anti-semitism in our society.
And the second thing I would say is, we know this is conflict or this is a region of the world where there has been long-standing dispute, long standing suffering of violence on all sides.
Nothing justifies what we have seen Hamas engage.
…I’ve spoken before about our position in terms of seeking an … an enduring two state solution, which recognises the legitimate aspirations of Jewish and Palestinian peoples. I think that is a very separate argument to what we are seeing now.
Nothing justifies the violence, the hostage taking, the killing of civilians, the awful scenes we have seen Hamas engaging in.
Wong says airlines pulling flights from Tel Aviv is ‘very concerning’
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong told ABC RN the government is seeking to confirm the welfare of any Australians who may have been caught up in this attack:
I repeat what I said yesterday that if there are Australians in Israel [or] in the Palestinian territories, we would urge you to contact your families to make sure we can verify your safety and they are aware of your safety.
Wong said she is aware of reports that major airlines including Emirates and American Airlines are pulling their flights from Tel Aviv and that it is “very concerning” for people trying to leave.
The advice to me today is obviously Tel Aviv airport remains open. And there are commercial options available, although I noticed that they are narrowing and there have been quite a lot of flight cancellations.
We’re continuing to monitor that.
Penny Wong says Israel has right to defend but urges ‘restraint’ to protect civilians
Q: Does that right to defend itself extend to what looks like collective punishment?
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong:
We’ve said Israel has a right to defend itself [and] we call for all hostages to be released. But we also have a principle position which we would advocate to all nations and all groups and all situations, which is we would urge for the protection of civilian lives and restraint …
I don’t think that’s a decision that it is easy to make from overseas … but I would say this – I think Australia should always, in any conflict, be saying we want civilian lives to [be] protected and that is what I have advocated.
Frankly, it’s very similar to the things that Simon Birmingham has said. And I just want to ask you to think about what’s the alternative? What’s the alternative to Australia urging restraint and the protection of civilian lives?
‘These attacks are abhorrent’: Penny Wong says Australia stands with Israel
Penny Wong is speaking to ABC RN about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
The foreign affairs minister is asked whether it is justified for the Israeli defence minister to order a complete seizure of Gaza, cutting off food and fuel.
Wong reiterated her previous comments that “Israel has a right to defend itself”:
The sorts of images, awful images that we are seeing reminds us of the security situation that Israel confronts. This is a really a dreadful situation, a devastating loss of life, and I think we should all be very clear that these attacks are abhorrent.
And Australia does very clearly – as I said to the … Israeli foreign minister when I spoke to him – we do stand in solidarity with Israel when we recognise and support its right to defend itself.
Australian landmarks light up in colours of Israeli flag
Here are some images of the Australian landmarks that were illuminated in blue and white colours last night in support of Israel.
The Sydney Opera House:
Parliament House in Canberra:
Various landmarks around Adelaide, South Australia:
Allegra Spender wants ‘urgent explanation’ over pro-Palestine demonstration in Sydney
Independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender has labelled last night’s pro-Palestine rally in Sydney as “abhorrent” and is seeking an “urgent explanation” of how it was “allowed to happen”.
Writing on social media, she said:
The scenes and chanting outside the Opera House last night are abhorrent. At a time when there should be solidarity with our Jewish community, they have been subject to appalling abuse.
I am seeking an urgent explanation of how this was allowed to happen.
The scenes and chanting outside the Opera House last night are abhorrent. At a time when there should be solidarity with our Jewish community, they have been subject to appalling abuse.
I am seeking an urgent explanation of how this was allowed to happen. pic.twitter.com/ofYenjW1VW— Allegra Spender (@spenderallegra) October 9, 2023
You can read more about last night’s rally below:
Hamas supporters in Australia ‘could be committing a crime’, Clare O’Neil warns
Home affairs minister Clare O’Neil wrote on social media last night that Hamas is listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia and “anyone providing support to Hamas could be committing a crime”.
O’Neil said she spent Monday being briefed on Hamas’ attack on Israel and the “implications for Australia”.
I have spent today being briefed on the deplorable attacks on Israel by Hamas and the implications for Australia.
Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization in Australia and anyone providing support to Hamas could be committing a crime.
— Clare O’Neil MP (@ClareONeilMP) October 9, 2023
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), O’Neil said:
We condemn the attacks and stand with Jewish Australians in our heartbreak over the lost lives of innocent people.
The Government will always work to protect our nation’s security and ensure our communities can live safely and peacefully in our country.
NSW paramedics to meet in Sydney as they push for better pay
Hundreds of paramedics with the Health Services Union (HSU) will attend a mass meeting at Sydney Trades Hall this afternoon, campaigning for professional recognition and pay.
Sydney MP Alex Greenwich is set to deliver a petition with more than 10,000 signatures urging the government to “urgently” adopt professional pay rates.
According to a statement from the HSU, the skills and value of paramedics has “skyrocketed” over the past decade as they take on increasing clinical and public health functions. However, their pay does not reflect this uplift in skills.
HSU NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said paramedics are “being shortchanged” and “have had enough”:
The skills and productivity of the typical paramedic are worth many multiples of what they are paid, yet their salaries have gone sideways.
Sagging morale has created a staffing crisis and unless we pay paramedics what they’re worth, they’ll keep moving to Queensland and Canberra.
Forty MPs and senators sign statement backing Israel
Daniel Hurst
Forty Australian MPs and senators have signed a statement declaring that the state of Israel “has an unimpeachable right to exist, and to defend itself”.
The statement, issued by the Parliamentary Friends of Israel, said:
The targeting of civilians and indiscriminate violence by Hamas is resulting in a devastating loss of life across the region and is a heartbreaking setback for the security of both Israeli and Palestinian people.
The group – whose chair is the Labor senator Deborah O’Neill and whose deputy chair is the Liberal senator David Fawcett – said its members “stand in friendship and solidarity with the people of Israel”.
Deputy prime minister Richard Marles was not a signatory but expressed similar sentiments in a speech to a “United with Israel” event in Melbourne last night.
Marles said the targets of the “horribly unimaginable” Hamas attacks were “not combatants, they were innocents – and that makes this murder”:
Tonight, Australia’s heart breaks for Israel. In the face of this evil, tonight Australia embraces Israel and all her people.
The comments came as hundreds of Australians marched in Sydney in solidarity with Palestinians after the Israeli government formally declared war against Hamas in response to its surprise attack.
Emily Wind
Good morning everyone, and thanks to Martin Farrer for kicking things off. I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be with you on the live blog today.
If you see anything you think needs attention here, you can send me an email: [email protected].
Let’s get going.
Mark Butler unveils national mental health strategy to make care more accessible
The health minister, Mark Butler, has unveiled the government’s Mental Health Workforce Strategy, committing more than $586m to make care more affordable and accessible.
Released on World Mental Health Day, the 10-year national strategy sets out a plan to attract, train, support, and retain a mental health workforce that can ensure Australians get the care they need “where and when they need it” the government says.
The strategy commits $91.3m to address “acute bottlenecks” in the psychology training pipeline, including creating 500 new postgraduate psychology places, funding 500 one-year internships for provisional psychologists and providing 2,000 fully subsidised supervisor training places. Psychology higher education pathways will also be redesigned to support longer term reform.
Nearly $18m will be invested in upskilling the broader health workforce in mental health, including undergraduate nurses, midwives and allied health students, as well as develop national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists.
Butler said:
The quality of the mental health system relies on its workforce. Australians deserve a mental health care system where people can get compassionate help from highly skilled professionals.
The assistant minister for mental health, Emma McBride, said:
The National Mental Health Workforce Strategy outlines how we will get the right mix of professionals in the right place to support the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians no matter where they live.
The Strategy is critical as we improve care to make mental health support affordable and more accessible.
Linda Burney clashes with Natasha Wanganeen on Q+A
Martin Farrer
Linda Burney has refused to discuss a path forward for Indigenous progress in the event of Saturday’s voice referendum failing, saying that regardless of the outcome there will still be disadvantage for Indigenous Australians on Sunday.
The minister for Indigenous Australians dodged questions on the ABC’s Q+A last night about the path forward if the referendum fails, and whether pursuing a treaty is viable, insisting she was still focused on bringing about a successful vote:
Millions of Australians have not voted yet. And I’m going to respectfully wait for them to vote.
We will look at the outcomes to make further decisions about what will happen and, let’s be clear, disadvantage will still be there on the 15th (the day after the referendum). There will still be much to do. The important thing is make sure we as a country go forward together.
In a heated episode, Burney was challenged by another panellist, Natasha Wanganeen. The actor, who is voting no because she supports a sovereignty treaty, said grassroots Indigenous perspectives had not been heard by either side during the referendum campaign.
Burney said:
The issue is that a referendum which is what we’re heading towards on Saturday is a binary vote, it’s yes or no. That’s all there is … There are two piles. So if you’re voting no, you’re voting with Clive Palmer, you’re voting with Pauline Hanson.
Wanganeen interjected:
No, you’re voting with grassroots mob.
Australia calls on Hamas to release hostages
Daniel Hurst
The Australian government has called for “the immediate and unconditional release of all those taken hostage” by Hamas after its attacks against Israel.
In a statement issued last night, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australia “unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas, including indiscriminate rocket fire, the targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages”.
The department’s spokesperson said:
We call for these attacks to stop and recognise Israel’s right to defend itself. Australia urges the protection of all civilian lives. We also call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those taken hostage. Our thoughts are with those killed and injured in these attacks and all others affected.
The spokesperson said the department was seeking to confirm the welfare of any Australians who may have been caught in the attacks:
Australian officials are monitoring the situation closely and remain in touch with local authorities.
We are aware that some flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport have been delayed or cancelled. Australians are encouraged to check with their airline for the latest updates before travelling.
Dfat says Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Australian government’s 24-hour consular emergency centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).
Good morning
Martin Farrer
Good morning and welcome to our live blog. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll get you up to speed with our main overnight stories before my colleague Emily Wind takes over.
Dealing with the fallout of a possible no vote in the voice referendum will be “ugly as sin” and could mark the end of an era of a “middle path” towards reconciliation, according to the veteran Indigenous leader and yes campaigner Noel Pearson. His fears for the “future of my people” are our top story this morning as we countdown to Saturday’s vote.
In fiery exchanges on the ABC’s Q+A last night, Linda Burney refused to discuss a path forward for Indigenous progress in the event of Saturday’s voice referendum failing, saying that regardless of the outcome there will still be disadvantage for Indigenous Australians. More on those stories coming up.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through Sydney last night in an expression of solidarity and called on the government to cut ties with Israel. The protesters made the Sydney Opera House the destination for their rally, angered by the decision to project the Israeli national colours on to the famous building as a mark of support after the Hamas attacks.
Last night deputy PM Richard Marles expressed government support for Israel, telling a meeting in Melbourne: “Australia’s heart breaks for Israel. In the face of this evil, tonight Australia embraces Israel and all her people.” The Australian government has called on Hamas to release all hostages.
Eastern Australia’s wholesale electricity prices fell sharply in the September quarter, a trend that if maintained could deliver power bill relief for households and businesses alike.
Spot market prices in the national electricity market that serves about 80% of Australia’s population averaged $63 a megawatt hour in the July-September period, according to data provided by the Australian Energy Market Operator. That result was 70% lower than for a year earlier and almost 42% lower than in the June quarter of this year, Aemo said.
With all that, let’s begin!