Albanese government expresses concern about planned anti-Israel protests as politicians return to Parliament House
Federal politicians will return to Canberra from Monday for the first sitting week of the new parliamentary term, with anti-Israel protests planned over the coming days.
Ms Rowland told Sky News Sunday Agenda that Australians have the right to protest, but said the government is hoping for calm amid heightened tensions in the capital.
'Well, obviously it is (a concern). We live in a free country where people are free to conduct this freedom of expression in that form,' she said.
'But obviously we don't want to see violence. I'm sure that we'll be briefed in due course as updates are available.'
Protest groups are expected to hold demonstrations outside parliament, with rallies flagged in response to the Albanese government's support of Israel.
The renewed focus on community safety and social division comes after the release of a major report by Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal.
The report warned antisemitism has 'reached a tipping point that threatens social harmony, undermines trust in institutions and marginalises Jewish Australian citizens'.
Shadow attorney general Julian Leeser has called on the government to fully implement all recommendations in the Segal report, including crackdowns at universities.
'There has been an attempt to silence Jewish academics, Jewish staff and Jewish students in recent times,' Mr Leeser told Sky News.
'And that just shouldn't be what universities are about.'
However, the Albanese government has come under criticism for delaying its response to some recommendations — particularly those relating to higher education.
Pressed on whether this delay was due to internal division or political sensitivity, Ms Rowland defended the government's approach.
'Look, I think (Education) Minister (Jason) Clare is undertaking this task as he sees fit, and he is doing that in a most excellent way,' she said.
"We do have... a number of aspects that go to social cohesion in our universities (which) demonstrates that we take this seriously."
She said her department had been involved in key policy areas such as anti-doxing legislation and laws criminalising nazi symbols and gestures.
'There are a number of recommendations that go to what I think is critical to support social cohesion in this area, and we will be examining that closely,' she said.
'Myself, as Attorney-General, I'll be doing that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
26 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Important': Senior Labor minister defends PM's China trip, says ties collapsed under Coalition
A senior Labor minister has hit back at the opposition for criticising Anthony Albanese's lengthy state visit to China, saying the relationship with Australia's biggest trading partner had 'broken down' on the Coalition's watch. The Prime Minister spent much of the last week touting Australia's tourism, trade and research offerings in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu as part of a five-day business and diplomatic blitz. But the Opposition has argued the trip did not produce any tangible outcomes, despite several agreements being signed. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said on Sunday she found the 'criticism quite extraordinary considering that since we came to government we have removed some $20 billion of trade impediments with China'. China imposed trade restrictions during a trade war with the Morrison-Coalition government. 'We now have in everything from wine to lobster, not to mention the fact that China is our single biggest trading partner,' Ms Rowland told Sky News. 'Our resources sector relies on that relationship.' She noted that Mr Albanese's visit was 'at the invitation … of China'. 'He went with a significant business delegation,' Ms Rowland. 'This is about creating jobs and extra trade opportunities for Australia, and it's important that we maintain this vital relationship.' The business community, represented by the Business Council of Australia (BCA), has praised the trip. The BCA was central to many of Mr Albanese's engagements in China, including high-level talks with Chinese officials and business leaders. With Mr Albanese meeting with Xi Jinping while a face-to-face with Donald Trump elusive, Ms Rowland was asked how she thought the China trip would go down in Washington. 'Our relationship with China is obviously important, as is our relationship with the United States,' she said. 'But here, there are different purposes. 'We will engage in the national interest wherever we can with China. 'We will always act in the national interest, and often we will disagree. 'But this is important from the perspective of our trade and of stabilising that relationship, which, quite frankly, had broken down under successive Liberal governments. 'And it's important that we have a government now that's acting in our national interest, in the interest of jobs and trade and certainty.' Ms Rowland, who sits on the National Security Committee, also downplayed concerns around the Trump administration's demand to hike Australian defence spending and its commitment to AUKUS – a $360bn submarine pact with the US and UK underpinning Canberra's defence strategy for the first half of the 21st century. While Mr Albanese was in China, the man leading the US review of AUKUS hinted Australia would need to guarantee support for the US if a conflict broke out in the Indo-Pacific over Taiwan. It came after the Financial Times reported Mr Colby asked Australia and Japan what they would do to defend the democratically self-governed island from China. Ms Rowland said she was 'not going to engage in hypotheticals' but that the Albanese government did 'not support a unilateral change' on Taiwan. 'What I will note, in going to a related issue about defence spending, that we recognise the US has called for this of a number of its allies,' she said. 'But again, I would point out that we are spending some $10bn over the forwards and nearly $60bn over the next decade on defence spending. 'We will act always in the national interest, and we will ensure that our capabilities are up to scratch.' She refused to comment on National Security deliberations on the US' AUKUS review, but said that 'there is nothing unusual about a new administration having a review of these relationships'. 'But again, we view AUKUS as fundamental to our relationship with the United States, and we are confident in its execution,' Ms Rowland said.
Perth Now
32 minutes ago
- Perth Now
‘Important': Albo's China jaunt defended
A senior Labor minister has hit back at the opposition for criticising Anthony Albanese's lengthy state visit to China, saying the relationship with Australia's biggest trading partner had 'broken down' on the Coalition's watch. The Prime Minister spent much of the last week touting Australia's tourism, trade and research offerings in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu as part of a five-day business and diplomatic blitz. But the Opposition has argued the trip did not produce any tangible outcomes, despite several agreements being signed. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said on Sunday she found the 'criticism quite extraordinary considering that since we came to government we have removed some $20 billion of trade impediments with China'. China imposed trade restrictions during a trade war with the Morrison-Coalition government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Prime Minister's Office / Handout / NewsWire Credit: NewsWire 'We now have in everything from wine to lobster, not to mention the fact that China is our single biggest trading partner,' Ms Rowland told Sky News. 'Our resources sector relies on that relationship.' She noted that Mr Albanese's visit was 'at the invitation … of China'. 'He went with a significant business delegation,' Ms Rowland. 'This is about creating jobs and extra trade opportunities for Australia, and it's important that we maintain this vital relationship.' The business community, represented by the Business Council of Australia (BCA), has praised the trip. The BCA was central to many of Mr Albanese's engagements in China, including high-level talks with Chinese officials and business leaders. With Mr Albanese meeting with Xi Jinping while a face-to-face with Donald Trump elusive, Ms Rowland was asked how she thought the China trip would go down in Washington. 'Our relationship with China is obviously important, as is our relationship with the United States,' she said. Chinese President Xi Jinping sat down with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Beijing. Prime Minister's Office / Handout / NewsWire Credit: NewsWire The hour-long face-to-face took place in the ornate East Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Prime Minister's Office / Handout / NewsWire Credit: NewsWire 'But here, there are different purposes. 'We will engage in the national interest wherever we can with China. 'We will always act in the national interest, and often we will disagree. 'But this is important from the perspective of our trade and of stabilising that relationship, which, quite frankly, had broken down under successive Liberal governments. 'And it's important that we have a government now that's acting in our national interest, in the interest of jobs and trade and certainty.' Ms Rowland, who sits on the National Security Committee, also downplayed concerns around the Trump administration's demand to hike Australian defence spending and its commitment to AUKUS – a $360bn submarine pact with the US and UK underpinning Canberra's defence strategy for the first half of the 21st century. While Mr Albanese was in China, the man leading the US review of AUKUS hinted Australia would need to guarantee support for the US if a conflict broke out in the Indo-Pacific over Taiwan. It came after the Financial Times reported Mr Colby asked Australia and Japan what they would do to defend the democratically self-governed island from China. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China was 'acting in the national interest'. Nikki Short / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Rowland said she was 'not going to engage in hypotheticals' but that the Albanese government did 'not support a unilateral change' on Taiwan. 'What I will note, in going to a related issue about defence spending, that we recognise the US has called for this of a number of its allies,' she said. 'But again, I would point out that we are spending some $10bn over the forwards and nearly $60bn over the next decade on defence spending. 'We will act always in the national interest, and we will ensure that our capabilities are up to scratch.' She refused to comment on National Security deliberations on the US' AUKUS review, but said that 'there is nothing unusual about a new administration having a review of these relationships'. 'But again, we view AUKUS as fundamental to our relationship with the United States, and we are confident in its execution,' Ms Rowland said.
Sky News AU
35 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien warns Albanese government ‘definitely going after taxing capital' at economic round table
Shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien has accused the Albanese government of plotting to raise taxes on capital, ahead of Treasurer Jim Chalmer's economic round table. Mr O'Brien told Sky News Sunday Agenda that the government was laying the groundwork to increase taxation across key areas of the economy. It comes after leaked treasury advice warned that the government would need to hike taxes or cut spending in order to avoid massive budget blowouts. 'I think it's clear the government wants new taxes, and I think that's one of the things we have to prosecute over this first sitting of the parliament,' Mr O'Brien said. 'They're definitely going after taxing capital. They're going after taxing investment. They're going after taxing companies. 'I believe they have an agenda to tax — there's just no doubt about that.' The government has invited economists and business leaders to the economic round table from 19 to 21 August 2025 to address possible tax reform. However, Mr O'Brien questioned the integrity of the roundtable, suggesting Labor may already have made up its mind on key economic reforms. 'My fear here is Labor might actually have an agenda already, and that this is nothing but a talk fest,' he said. The opposition has called for a broader, bipartisan approach to tax reform, with Mr O'Brien signalling the opposition was open to a 'holistic' discussion. 'If it's done holistically, if it's looking at more efficient taxation, if you're looking at fixing up what is currently a mess with Labor being overly reliant on income taxes.' Labor is facing mounting fiscal pressures including ballooning NDIS costs, an expanding defence budget, and the cost of the Future Made in Australia program. Former Treasury secretary Ken Henry recently warned that without stronger productivity, the government would be forced to either raise taxes or cut spending. 'If we continue on that trajectory … we will have no option but to raise taxes,' Mr Henry told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
