‘Tolerating difference is eroding': Social cohesion in Australia is ‘under strain'
Centre for Independent Studies Peter Kurti says social cohesion in Australia is 'under strain'.
'7 October 2023 and the response that we saw to that on the streets of our cities, showed in fact there can be one set of Australians who denounce and condemn another set of Australians who are openly,' Mr Kurti told Sky News host Chris Kenny.
'We need a new model of agreement … that we agree to live with difference.'
Mr Kurti claims a 'willingness to tolerate difference is eroding' in Australia.
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The Advertiser
38 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Crossbenchers pressure Labor to launch 'urgent' AUKUS inquiry
ACT senator David Pocock and an alliance of parliamentary crossbenchers are calling on the Albanese government to urgently establish a formal inquiry into the AUKUS submarine deal. It comes after revelations the Trump administration will review the terms of the trilateral pact to ensure it meets "American First criteria", which has sparked doubts about the future of the landmark deal. Eight crossbench MPs wrote to Defence Minister Richard Marles on Friday, raising concerns about the $368 billion deal that could see Australia buy at least three Virginia-class nuclear-attack submarines from the US by the 2030s. The MPs said there has been insufficient parliamentary oversight of the pact and said Australians wanted to know more about its strategic and financial implications. "With the UK and now the US reviewing AUKUS, Australia is now the only country not actively considering whether the agreement in its current form best serves our national interest," Senator Pocok said in a statement. "Given the scale and cost of this deal, a transparent review is not just sensible; it's overdue." Australia is investing billions of dollars to support the US's submarine production base under AUKUS, which is estimated to be 20 years behind schedule. Independent MP Allegra Spender said there needed to be an open discussion about the "very clear risk" that the US will not be able to guarantee the transfer of the boats without diminishing its naval capabilities. "AUKUS is the centrepiece of our defence and foreign policy strategy, but it's been adopted by the major parties with very poor public engagement," Ms Spender said. "AUKUS will shape Australia's future for decades with enormous implications both financially, economically, and strategically, but in discussions at the community level, there are consistent questions and concerns that have not been addressed." Defence Minister Richard Marles has said he remains confident the deal will go ahead and that the US review was a "perfectly natural" thing for a new administration to do. "We've always known that increasing the production and sustainment rate in the United States is a challenge, but we're confident that we can meet that challenge," Mr Marles said on Friday. The Canberra Times has contacted a spokesperson for comment. A parliamentary inquiry into the ratification of the AUKUS treaty last year heard that a provision allowing the US and the UK to withdraw with a year's notice could have "significant implications" for Australia. The inquiry heard there were no specified terms in the treaty or in agreement documents to suggest Australia would have full ownership of the second-hand US-built boats, which are due to be sold and delivered by 2032. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said he was concerned about the future of AUKUS and called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet with Donald Trump to secure its terms. "We'll continue to make the case for AUKUS, and we must. It is a good arrangement and the right arrangement to ensure we get peace in our region through deterrence," Mr Taylor said on Friday. Mr Albanese is expected to hold his first in-person meeting with the US president on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada next week, which has yet to be confirmed. The potential meeting comes after Labor rebuffed US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth's call for Australia to increase its military spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP from the current level of just over 2 per cent. ACT senator David Pocock and an alliance of parliamentary crossbenchers are calling on the Albanese government to urgently establish a formal inquiry into the AUKUS submarine deal. It comes after revelations the Trump administration will review the terms of the trilateral pact to ensure it meets "American First criteria", which has sparked doubts about the future of the landmark deal. Eight crossbench MPs wrote to Defence Minister Richard Marles on Friday, raising concerns about the $368 billion deal that could see Australia buy at least three Virginia-class nuclear-attack submarines from the US by the 2030s. The MPs said there has been insufficient parliamentary oversight of the pact and said Australians wanted to know more about its strategic and financial implications. "With the UK and now the US reviewing AUKUS, Australia is now the only country not actively considering whether the agreement in its current form best serves our national interest," Senator Pocok said in a statement. "Given the scale and cost of this deal, a transparent review is not just sensible; it's overdue." Australia is investing billions of dollars to support the US's submarine production base under AUKUS, which is estimated to be 20 years behind schedule. Independent MP Allegra Spender said there needed to be an open discussion about the "very clear risk" that the US will not be able to guarantee the transfer of the boats without diminishing its naval capabilities. "AUKUS is the centrepiece of our defence and foreign policy strategy, but it's been adopted by the major parties with very poor public engagement," Ms Spender said. "AUKUS will shape Australia's future for decades with enormous implications both financially, economically, and strategically, but in discussions at the community level, there are consistent questions and concerns that have not been addressed." Defence Minister Richard Marles has said he remains confident the deal will go ahead and that the US review was a "perfectly natural" thing for a new administration to do. "We've always known that increasing the production and sustainment rate in the United States is a challenge, but we're confident that we can meet that challenge," Mr Marles said on Friday. The Canberra Times has contacted a spokesperson for comment. A parliamentary inquiry into the ratification of the AUKUS treaty last year heard that a provision allowing the US and the UK to withdraw with a year's notice could have "significant implications" for Australia. The inquiry heard there were no specified terms in the treaty or in agreement documents to suggest Australia would have full ownership of the second-hand US-built boats, which are due to be sold and delivered by 2032. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said he was concerned about the future of AUKUS and called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet with Donald Trump to secure its terms. "We'll continue to make the case for AUKUS, and we must. It is a good arrangement and the right arrangement to ensure we get peace in our region through deterrence," Mr Taylor said on Friday. Mr Albanese is expected to hold his first in-person meeting with the US president on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada next week, which has yet to be confirmed. The potential meeting comes after Labor rebuffed US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth's call for Australia to increase its military spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP from the current level of just over 2 per cent. ACT senator David Pocock and an alliance of parliamentary crossbenchers are calling on the Albanese government to urgently establish a formal inquiry into the AUKUS submarine deal. It comes after revelations the Trump administration will review the terms of the trilateral pact to ensure it meets "American First criteria", which has sparked doubts about the future of the landmark deal. Eight crossbench MPs wrote to Defence Minister Richard Marles on Friday, raising concerns about the $368 billion deal that could see Australia buy at least three Virginia-class nuclear-attack submarines from the US by the 2030s. The MPs said there has been insufficient parliamentary oversight of the pact and said Australians wanted to know more about its strategic and financial implications. "With the UK and now the US reviewing AUKUS, Australia is now the only country not actively considering whether the agreement in its current form best serves our national interest," Senator Pocok said in a statement. "Given the scale and cost of this deal, a transparent review is not just sensible; it's overdue." Australia is investing billions of dollars to support the US's submarine production base under AUKUS, which is estimated to be 20 years behind schedule. Independent MP Allegra Spender said there needed to be an open discussion about the "very clear risk" that the US will not be able to guarantee the transfer of the boats without diminishing its naval capabilities. "AUKUS is the centrepiece of our defence and foreign policy strategy, but it's been adopted by the major parties with very poor public engagement," Ms Spender said. "AUKUS will shape Australia's future for decades with enormous implications both financially, economically, and strategically, but in discussions at the community level, there are consistent questions and concerns that have not been addressed." Defence Minister Richard Marles has said he remains confident the deal will go ahead and that the US review was a "perfectly natural" thing for a new administration to do. "We've always known that increasing the production and sustainment rate in the United States is a challenge, but we're confident that we can meet that challenge," Mr Marles said on Friday. The Canberra Times has contacted a spokesperson for comment. A parliamentary inquiry into the ratification of the AUKUS treaty last year heard that a provision allowing the US and the UK to withdraw with a year's notice could have "significant implications" for Australia. The inquiry heard there were no specified terms in the treaty or in agreement documents to suggest Australia would have full ownership of the second-hand US-built boats, which are due to be sold and delivered by 2032. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said he was concerned about the future of AUKUS and called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet with Donald Trump to secure its terms. "We'll continue to make the case for AUKUS, and we must. It is a good arrangement and the right arrangement to ensure we get peace in our region through deterrence," Mr Taylor said on Friday. Mr Albanese is expected to hold his first in-person meeting with the US president on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada next week, which has yet to be confirmed. The potential meeting comes after Labor rebuffed US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth's call for Australia to increase its military spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP from the current level of just over 2 per cent. ACT senator David Pocock and an alliance of parliamentary crossbenchers are calling on the Albanese government to urgently establish a formal inquiry into the AUKUS submarine deal. It comes after revelations the Trump administration will review the terms of the trilateral pact to ensure it meets "American First criteria", which has sparked doubts about the future of the landmark deal. Eight crossbench MPs wrote to Defence Minister Richard Marles on Friday, raising concerns about the $368 billion deal that could see Australia buy at least three Virginia-class nuclear-attack submarines from the US by the 2030s. The MPs said there has been insufficient parliamentary oversight of the pact and said Australians wanted to know more about its strategic and financial implications. "With the UK and now the US reviewing AUKUS, Australia is now the only country not actively considering whether the agreement in its current form best serves our national interest," Senator Pocok said in a statement. "Given the scale and cost of this deal, a transparent review is not just sensible; it's overdue." Australia is investing billions of dollars to support the US's submarine production base under AUKUS, which is estimated to be 20 years behind schedule. Independent MP Allegra Spender said there needed to be an open discussion about the "very clear risk" that the US will not be able to guarantee the transfer of the boats without diminishing its naval capabilities. "AUKUS is the centrepiece of our defence and foreign policy strategy, but it's been adopted by the major parties with very poor public engagement," Ms Spender said. "AUKUS will shape Australia's future for decades with enormous implications both financially, economically, and strategically, but in discussions at the community level, there are consistent questions and concerns that have not been addressed." Defence Minister Richard Marles has said he remains confident the deal will go ahead and that the US review was a "perfectly natural" thing for a new administration to do. "We've always known that increasing the production and sustainment rate in the United States is a challenge, but we're confident that we can meet that challenge," Mr Marles said on Friday. The Canberra Times has contacted a spokesperson for comment. A parliamentary inquiry into the ratification of the AUKUS treaty last year heard that a provision allowing the US and the UK to withdraw with a year's notice could have "significant implications" for Australia. The inquiry heard there were no specified terms in the treaty or in agreement documents to suggest Australia would have full ownership of the second-hand US-built boats, which are due to be sold and delivered by 2032. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said he was concerned about the future of AUKUS and called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet with Donald Trump to secure its terms. "We'll continue to make the case for AUKUS, and we must. It is a good arrangement and the right arrangement to ensure we get peace in our region through deterrence," Mr Taylor said on Friday. Mr Albanese is expected to hold his first in-person meeting with the US president on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada next week, which has yet to be confirmed. The potential meeting comes after Labor rebuffed US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth's call for Australia to increase its military spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP from the current level of just over 2 per cent.
The Advertiser
38 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Woodside given more time to consider gas plant rules
A final call on Woodside's massive gas project has been delayed with the energy giant granted more time to consider federal conditions on cultural heritage and air quality. Woodside had 10 days to respond to Environment Minister Murray Watt's provisional approval to push out the life of its North West Shelf project in Western Australia but an unspecified extension has since been granted. Under the proposal, the project - which hosts Australia's biggest gas export plant - will be able to keep operating until 2070. The tentative approval has angered Indigenous groups fearful it will damage nearby ancient rock art, as well as environmentalists concerned it will hasten climate change. Protesters took the campaign to the offices of five federal Labor MPs in Perth on Friday where they handed over an open letter opposing the project signed by more than 60 scientists and experts. The North West Shelf's go-ahead is subject to strict conditions about the impact of air emission levels, provisions the environment minister says will ensure the 60,000-year-old Murujuga Indigenous rock art is not destroyed. Senator Watt said discussions with Woodside had been constructive and it was not uncommon for proponents in this situation to take a bit longer to respond. "I can't predict exactly when it will be that Woodside will provide those comments," he told ABC radio on Thursday. The energy giant confirmed the extended consultation period on Friday. "Woodside recognises the importance of the matters being addressed by the proposed conditions of the environmental approval including cultural heritage management and air quality," the company said in a statement. Australian Conservation Foundation climate campaigner Piper Rollins said the public had a right to see the conditions proposed by the minister. "Australians who are worried about the protection of the ancient Murujuga rock art, which has been nominated for World Heritage listing and is right next door to Woodside's gas hub, deserve to see what Woodside is being allowed to negotiate behind closed doors," Ms Rollins said. "In addition to the damage to the rock art, extending the NW Shelf gas hub until 2070 locks in decades more climate pollution and will drive demand to open new gas fields." A final call on Woodside's massive gas project has been delayed with the energy giant granted more time to consider federal conditions on cultural heritage and air quality. Woodside had 10 days to respond to Environment Minister Murray Watt's provisional approval to push out the life of its North West Shelf project in Western Australia but an unspecified extension has since been granted. Under the proposal, the project - which hosts Australia's biggest gas export plant - will be able to keep operating until 2070. The tentative approval has angered Indigenous groups fearful it will damage nearby ancient rock art, as well as environmentalists concerned it will hasten climate change. Protesters took the campaign to the offices of five federal Labor MPs in Perth on Friday where they handed over an open letter opposing the project signed by more than 60 scientists and experts. The North West Shelf's go-ahead is subject to strict conditions about the impact of air emission levels, provisions the environment minister says will ensure the 60,000-year-old Murujuga Indigenous rock art is not destroyed. Senator Watt said discussions with Woodside had been constructive and it was not uncommon for proponents in this situation to take a bit longer to respond. "I can't predict exactly when it will be that Woodside will provide those comments," he told ABC radio on Thursday. The energy giant confirmed the extended consultation period on Friday. "Woodside recognises the importance of the matters being addressed by the proposed conditions of the environmental approval including cultural heritage management and air quality," the company said in a statement. Australian Conservation Foundation climate campaigner Piper Rollins said the public had a right to see the conditions proposed by the minister. "Australians who are worried about the protection of the ancient Murujuga rock art, which has been nominated for World Heritage listing and is right next door to Woodside's gas hub, deserve to see what Woodside is being allowed to negotiate behind closed doors," Ms Rollins said. "In addition to the damage to the rock art, extending the NW Shelf gas hub until 2070 locks in decades more climate pollution and will drive demand to open new gas fields." A final call on Woodside's massive gas project has been delayed with the energy giant granted more time to consider federal conditions on cultural heritage and air quality. Woodside had 10 days to respond to Environment Minister Murray Watt's provisional approval to push out the life of its North West Shelf project in Western Australia but an unspecified extension has since been granted. Under the proposal, the project - which hosts Australia's biggest gas export plant - will be able to keep operating until 2070. The tentative approval has angered Indigenous groups fearful it will damage nearby ancient rock art, as well as environmentalists concerned it will hasten climate change. Protesters took the campaign to the offices of five federal Labor MPs in Perth on Friday where they handed over an open letter opposing the project signed by more than 60 scientists and experts. The North West Shelf's go-ahead is subject to strict conditions about the impact of air emission levels, provisions the environment minister says will ensure the 60,000-year-old Murujuga Indigenous rock art is not destroyed. Senator Watt said discussions with Woodside had been constructive and it was not uncommon for proponents in this situation to take a bit longer to respond. "I can't predict exactly when it will be that Woodside will provide those comments," he told ABC radio on Thursday. The energy giant confirmed the extended consultation period on Friday. "Woodside recognises the importance of the matters being addressed by the proposed conditions of the environmental approval including cultural heritage management and air quality," the company said in a statement. Australian Conservation Foundation climate campaigner Piper Rollins said the public had a right to see the conditions proposed by the minister. "Australians who are worried about the protection of the ancient Murujuga rock art, which has been nominated for World Heritage listing and is right next door to Woodside's gas hub, deserve to see what Woodside is being allowed to negotiate behind closed doors," Ms Rollins said. "In addition to the damage to the rock art, extending the NW Shelf gas hub until 2070 locks in decades more climate pollution and will drive demand to open new gas fields." A final call on Woodside's massive gas project has been delayed with the energy giant granted more time to consider federal conditions on cultural heritage and air quality. Woodside had 10 days to respond to Environment Minister Murray Watt's provisional approval to push out the life of its North West Shelf project in Western Australia but an unspecified extension has since been granted. Under the proposal, the project - which hosts Australia's biggest gas export plant - will be able to keep operating until 2070. The tentative approval has angered Indigenous groups fearful it will damage nearby ancient rock art, as well as environmentalists concerned it will hasten climate change. Protesters took the campaign to the offices of five federal Labor MPs in Perth on Friday where they handed over an open letter opposing the project signed by more than 60 scientists and experts. The North West Shelf's go-ahead is subject to strict conditions about the impact of air emission levels, provisions the environment minister says will ensure the 60,000-year-old Murujuga Indigenous rock art is not destroyed. Senator Watt said discussions with Woodside had been constructive and it was not uncommon for proponents in this situation to take a bit longer to respond. "I can't predict exactly when it will be that Woodside will provide those comments," he told ABC radio on Thursday. The energy giant confirmed the extended consultation period on Friday. "Woodside recognises the importance of the matters being addressed by the proposed conditions of the environmental approval including cultural heritage management and air quality," the company said in a statement. Australian Conservation Foundation climate campaigner Piper Rollins said the public had a right to see the conditions proposed by the minister. "Australians who are worried about the protection of the ancient Murujuga rock art, which has been nominated for World Heritage listing and is right next door to Woodside's gas hub, deserve to see what Woodside is being allowed to negotiate behind closed doors," Ms Rollins said. "In addition to the damage to the rock art, extending the NW Shelf gas hub until 2070 locks in decades more climate pollution and will drive demand to open new gas fields."
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Walmart in a ‘precarious situation' as heiress Christy Walton launches anti-Trump ad
New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz has slammed Walmart heiress Christy Walton's anti-Trump advertisement. 'It's definitely a dangerous thing to have,' Mr Markowicz told Sky News host James Morrow. 'They definitely might take some hits. 'Walmart is in a bit of a precarious situation.'
