Australian News

Exclusive: Anthony D’Adam says civil liberties would be threatened if police could reject rallies based on cost and MPs are afraid to speak out in support of Palestine

Minns has ordered a review of policing resources that have been used on Sydney’s weekly pro-Palestine protests.

Minns publicly reprimanded Stephen Lawrence after the first-term Labor MP accused Israel of the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians in 1948 and 1967 and denying their right of return during a speech to parliament last year.

[An unnamed MP] said government MPs were “absolutely” afraid to speak up about Palestine.

Minns had devoted a lot of time to supporting people in NSW with ties to Israel but hadn’t done the same for those with connections to Gaza or Lebanon, the MP said.

"Have you got Tourette's or something? You know, you just sit there, babble, babble, babble," he said, responding to the interruptions.

Minns told Ben Fordham Live he believes NSW Police should be able to decline formal requests to shut down streets in Sydney for demonstrations.

"As part of that assessment, [police] should be in a position to say, we can't do it this weekend because you've done it for the previous 50 weekends," he said.

In short:

Australia has recorded its first cases of the XEC COVID-19 variant that has been spreading in Europe this year.

The mutation is a "recombinant" variant that is a mix of two previous Omicron subvariants called KS 1.1 and KP 3.3.

What's next?

An infectious disease expert says the strain has the hallmarks of something that could lead to a "summer wave" of infections.

In short:

Pro-Palestine demonstrators have gathered in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide on the eve of the anniversary of the October 7 attacks.

Demonstrators have repeated calls for a ceasefire as war in the Middle East intensifies.

The rallies were met with a heightened police presence, but authorities said they were pleased with overall behaviour.

Truss told the rightwing event that the left was “winning the argument” by rebranding “socialism” as “the environment”, “human rights” or “equality” – “but what they mean is they mean divisive identity politics”.

https://x.com/nickriemer1/status/1842367573654192131?t=ehgCvVt3KMTzzr-HF8V2-w

Place your bets ! Any guesses what this will be about ?

Paywalled source.

The emails from her supporters described Rinehart as “One of Australia’s most prestigious people” and “our most powerful and successful woman” as they called for the portraits be removed for their “disrespectful” and “extremely upsetting” depictions of the miner.

One suggested the “insult” be met with a formal written apology from the NGA expressing regret for the “disrespectful portrayal”. Another described the works as “tawdry commercialism at best, cheap shots, resonating from a platform of ignorance”.

“In my opinion, this artwork should be removed and replaced with a portrait celebrating her and all she has done and continues to do for Australia,” one supporter said.

LOL

In short:

Two pro-Palestinian events planned for Sydney this long weekend have been confirmed as going ahead.

Earlier this week, NSW Police applied to the state's Supreme Court to prohibit the events out of safety concerns.

Outside the NSW Supreme Court today, following the hearing, organisers said police chose to withdraw their application to prohibit the protest.

NOTE: The location has changed, and the rally will now start at Hyde Park.

Witness by Connor D'Netto is available for purchase through Bandcamp.

All proceeds from the Bandcamp release will be donated to Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA) para.org.au

As noted by @[email protected] in the comments Bandcamp Fridays (where Bandcamp waives their revenue share and pass the funds directly to artists & labels) ~~starts at 5pm AEST Friday Oct 4 and goes for 24 hours~~ is on. If someone knows exactly when it ends I can update this post.

In short:

Tens of thousands of workers have attended rallies in Sydney and Melbourne to protest the forced administration of the construction division of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU).

A senior Victorian union figure has threatened an additional 72 hours of strikes.

What's next?

The federal government is planning a meeting next month between unions, government and businesses, in a bid to reset in the wake of the CFMEU scandal.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19870126

The Australian Government has announced changes to the way video games are classified in Australia. Starting from September 22nd, 2024, two new rules will apply to games that include “in-game purchases with an element of chance,” such as loot boxes [now M], and games that feature “simulated gambling,” like casino games [now R18+].

A photographer who provides images for pro-Palestinian groups has lost part of his ear and perforated an eardrum after being shot by police with a rubber bullet during a violent protest against a Melbourne military expo.

The 33-year-old photographer, who provides images for Free Palestine Melbourne and Free Palestine Coalition Naarm, was wounded at about 10am on Wednesday and says he is waiting to find out whether he will suffer permanent hearing loss.

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/protest-photographer-loses-part-of-ear-after-being-shot-by-rubber-bullet-at-rally-20240913-p5kaex.html