Australian politics live: Penny Wong says government ‘outraged’ and will call in Israel ambassador over IDF decision not to investigate Frankcom killing
Foreign affairs minister says timing of decision was ‘especially insulting’. Follow today’s news live
Australia's foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has issued a strongly worded rebuke to Israel over the decision not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for killing Zomi Frankcom in 2024. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters
Australia's foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has issued a strongly worded rebuke to Israel over the decision not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for killing Zomi Frankcom in 2024. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters
Government ‘outraged’ over IDF decision not to investigate killing of aid workers
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says the government is “outraged” over the decision by the Israel Defense Forces not to pursue a criminal investigation into the strike on an aid convoy in 2024 that killed seven people, including Australian Zomi Frankcom.
In a statement issued this morning Wong says it falls “far short of the accountability we expect” and she will call in Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, and has “directed Australia’s ambassador to Israel [Neil Hawkins] to convey our views directly to Israel as the Australian government considers next steps”.
Wong adds:
The Australian government learned of Israel’s decision late last night, moments before it was announced, on World Humanitarian Day – which is especially insulting to Zomi’s loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians.
Zomi represented the best of Australia. Her courage deserves to be celebrated. Her family deserves justice.
The decision not to investigate further came despite the IDF’s admissions that the strikes on Zomi and her colleagues’ vehicles were the result of serious failures to follow procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making, Wong said.
This was confirmed by Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin’s report.
Democracies seek and accept higher standards. The Australian government will not stop pressing Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues.
Gambling reforms pass into law after late night vote
Sarah Basford Canales
The government’s gambling reforms passed the Senate late last night after hours of debate, bringing in new restrictions to limit gambling advertising and a one-stop “opt-out register”.
The debate began after 5pm and continued until 9pm when senators were forced to end discussions and vote on amendments from the opposition and crossbenchers. Ultimately, the government’s bill passed unamended after 9.30pm sealing it into law.
Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan said he couldn’t support the bill, lamenting it was not what the late Labor MP Peta Murphy urged when delivering her landmark report on gambling harms. Murphy’s report recommended a total ban on inducements and wagering ads.
McLachlan said:
I don’t see anything in the bill that really diminishes the rivers of gold that the corporates are earning, and sufficient restraints on their abilities to prey on the most vulnerable, particularly our children. I’ve listened to the charities who have to respond to the carnage caused by addiction. It’s their voices we should be acting on, not those that are making them money.
The Greens and ACT senator, David Pocock, also spoke extensively about how Labor’s proposal didn’t go far enough to stop the normalisation of gambling in Australia.
Labor senator, Anthony Chisholm, ended the evening debate saying:
The reforms that we have announced as part of this legislation [are] going to make a meaningful difference. I understand that it’s not in your political interest to acknowledge that, but it is something that we are determined to deliver on because we know that is going to make a difference for people, not only those who are at risk of harm, who may be suffering from harm, but also for young people at the same time.
The changes will limit TV gambling ads to three per hour between 5am and 8.30pm, ban gambling ads on player jerseys and in stadiums, ban celebrities and players from promoting gambling, and create a “triple lock” system for online ads requiring users to be over 18, logged in and provided with an opt-out option.
Gaming platform Roblox accepts undertaking by eSafety to improve safety
The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant is doing the media rounds this morning, after putting Roblox, which has been accused of hosting grooming and sexual exploitation on its platform, on notice to improve its safety measures or face court.
Roblox has accepted an undertaking by the online safety regulator, and will be independently audited.
Speaking to ABC RN Breakfast, Inman Grant says eSafety has been investigating the platform for more than two years but found “children’s accounts were not protected at the highest levels of privacy by default. And there were things like children’s profiles and biographies and account names being available.”
We’re surprised when we look closely at Roblox, that basic functionality, like not allowing adult predators or any adult to contact a child without explicit consent, was enabled … but if a predator has a roadmap for grooming that tells them that this child is 12, they go to a specific school and they like Taylor Swift, it’s not only on platform that we worry about either. Often this is the primary hunting ground where they identify the kids and then they move them to other platforms.
Asked why then the platform was exempt from the under-16s social media ban, Inman Grant says its because the legislation focuses on social media, not gaming platforms.
But she adds that she told Robox, “the more social media functionality that they developed, the more likely they were to be captured by this [social media ban].”
Governor general ‘devastated for the women’ hurt by Sydney Swans incident
Luca Ittimani
The governor general, Sam Mostyn, says she is “devastated for the women” affected by the alleged behaviour of Sydney Swans players linked with a sexual assault allegation.
In remarks published by the ABC, Mostyn raised alarm at Australia’s “appalling statistics” on domestic and sexual violence against women. She said the allegation “shocked and troubled” her, adding:
My thoughts remain with the alleged sexual assault victim, and I hope she is very well supported. I am also devastated for the women of the Swans … and women across the industry who have been hurt by this incident.
Sadly, the lack of respect for women across the country remains an issue for us all to be concerned about, particularly in sport. … I note Australia still has appalling statistics when it comes to domestic and sexual violence against women.
Mostyn, a former Swans board member and the first female AFL commissioner, reflected on her experience in her comments.
Bringing a woman’s perspective to the game was incredibly important, and today we need to remain committed to bringing more women into positions of influence in the AFL and all sports.
The governor general, Sam Mostyn. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian
Government ‘outraged’ over IDF decision not to investigate killing of aid workers
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says the government is “outraged” over the decision by the Israel Defense Forces not to pursue a criminal investigation into the strike on an aid convoy in 2024 that killed seven people, including Australian Zomi Frankcom.
In a statement issued this morning Wong says it falls “far short of the accountability we expect” and she will call in Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, and has “directed Australia’s ambassador to Israel [Neil Hawkins] to convey our views directly to Israel as the Australian government considers next steps”.
Wong adds:
The Australian government learned of Israel’s decision late last night, moments before it was announced, on World Humanitarian Day – which is especially insulting to Zomi’s loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians.
Zomi represented the best of Australia. Her courage deserves to be celebrated. Her family deserves justice.
The decision not to investigate further came despite the IDF’s admissions that the strikes on Zomi and her colleagues’ vehicles were the result of serious failures to follow procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making, Wong said.
This was confirmed by Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin’s report.
Democracies seek and accept higher standards. The Australian government will not stop pressing Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues.
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you for the final sitting day of the week.
The government has expressed outrage after the Israel Defense Forces decided not to open a criminal investigation against those responsible for killing Australian Zomi Frankcom and six others after airstrikes hit a convoy of World Central Kitchen vehicles.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says she will call in the Israeli ambassador to Australia to make the government’s views known – more on that shortly.
And the government and Coalition have had a busy few days, together passing gambling reforms, the NDIS overhaul and today it’s expected the parliament will also pass news bargaining incentive legislation.
It’s going to be another busy day – let’s get cracking.