Druze diaspora calls on Federal Government to condemn sectarian violence
Published 22 July 2025, 8:52 am
Members of Australia's Syrian community are mourning the deaths of relatives who are among the hundreds of civilians caught up in a recent wave of clashes in the southern city of Sweida. Many of Australia's religious Druze community are demanding the Federal Government apply pressure to Syria's leaders to stop the violence, while also urging Australia to lift its humanitarian intake.
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ABC News
3 minutes ago
- ABC News
Plan to convert Sydney golf course into cemetery 'short-sighted' as consultation set to start
A government plan to convert a Sydney golf course into a cemetery will be formally presented to residents on Tuesday, drawing condemnation from the local Labor MP, who described it as "lazy and short-sighted". Auburn MP Lynda Voltz said the proposal to convert the government-owned Carnarvon Golf Course at Lidcombe appeared to be reaching its "endgame" with an eight-week consultation period beginning this week. "It's hardly consultation, they've made their decision," she told the ABC. "Despite how many times they've denied they've made a decision, they made [it] a long time ago. "No other site is being looked at." Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MMP), which runs government-owned cemeteries, said Carnarvon was its preferred site for a "modern memorial park". It is close to the existing Rookwood cemetery and the government owns it already, saving on potential acquisition costs elsewhere. However, Ms Voltz cautioned the government against seeing Carnarvon as a cheap solution to Sydney's shortage of burial space. "They think they can take this land for nothing and they don't have to pay for it," she said The state government is desperate to find more burial space in Sydney. At nearby Rookwood cemetery, Islamic burial plots are projected to run out in three years' time. At Macquarie Park, Armenian Orthodox plots are likely to be exhausted in just two-and-a-half years. With about 10,000 people buried in Sydney every year, MMP CEO Denise Ora said there was a "pressing" need to find alternatives. "We've been tasked with exploring sustainable, long-term solutions that support Sydney's diverse communities," Ms Ora said. However, Ms Voltz said the plan would rob the local area of much-needed green space. "Why does Lidcombe have to be the burial site for everyone?" She said she feared adjacent sporting fields could be next, as the government continues searching for more burial space. "They say they're only going for the golf course. "[But] once the golf course is full, there is now way the soccer field aren't going." MMP said its proposal for Carnarvon would include green space and walking paths that local residents could enjoy. "Our vision for the Carnarvon site is to create a modern memorial park that not only meets essential burial needs but provides a public space for the whole community," Ms Ora said. Ms Voltz said the golf course conversion will mean some residents are sandwiched between Rookwood cemetery to the east and Carnarvon to the west. "Particularly in the Asian community, the idea of living surrounded by people that have been buried is just not appropriate," she said. The Carnarvon Golf Club has a lease on the site until 2035. Lands Minister Steve Kamper has said the lease cannot be terminated without "mutual agreement". However, the club's general manager, Adam McGregor, said the messaging from MMP had worried his members. "We were told by Minister Kamper that we were safe until 2035. "[But] I guess I'm concerned with only one option being offered for cemetery space, and there seems to be the line from the cemetery people that they'll run out of space in the next 12 months." He said if the consultation was genuine, an alternative option would have been presented to the community. "What's the point of consulting on one piece of land?" Mr Kamper said he welcomed MMP putting its proposal out for community consultation. "We got into this mess because successive governments put this in the too hard basket, now we are at a point where we can't afford not to act."
News.com.au
6 minutes ago
- News.com.au
NSW parliament inquiry falls short of calling for cat containment
Pet cats could prove to be a key election issue in NSW, activists have warned, after a parliamentary inquiry failed to recommend mandatory containment. A parliamentary inquiry into cat management stopped short of recommending cat containment in a final report released on Monday. The report found NSW 'may not be ready' to adopt mandatory cat containment laws at either a statewide or local government level. Such laws would disproportionately impact people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and Aboriginal communities, the report stated. Invasive Species Council chief executive Jack Gough said the inquiry's findings were 'disappointing', and urged the Premier to 'step up and make these changes'. 'While it's great to see the finding that there's an urgent need to implement cat management strategies for both overpopulation of cats in urban environments and in the bush, in the wild, unfortunately they haven't quite got over the line with recommending the adoption of mandatory cat containment laws,' Mr Gough said. 'We believe there is a mandate from the public (and) from organisations for change, and I expect that sensible politics and policy will prevail here and we will see our native wildlife, and the healthy, happy lives of our pet cats put up high, and that changes to the law that are needed to allow councils to be empowered go through.' Mr Gough said cat containment stood to be a 'big issue' in the run up to the next state election, with an estimated two-thirds of residents in support. The Invasive Species Council estimates some 66 million native animals are killed every year due to 'roaming pet cats'. Currently, NSW was the only state where cat containment powers are not given to local councils, Mr Gough said. In Victoria, some 50 per cent of councils have introduced cat containment measures, while in the ACT the policy is implemented territory-wide. Mr Gough said cat containment was still under serious consideration by the state government. The Companion Animals Act, which dictates the duties of animal owners, is separately under review. Responding to questions about the inquiry's findings, a spokesperson for Local Government Minister Ron Hoening, who oversees the Companion Animals Act, said the government would review the inquiry's findings and respond 'in due course'. 'We recognise people have strong opinions about cats and the impacts they have in our neighbourhoods and on native wildlife,' the spokesperson said. 'It's a complex issue, that's why we asked the upper house to conduct this inquiry. 'The inquiry heard from a range of stakeholders with very different views about the best way to manage cats in our environments. 'The diversity of perspectives highlights the complexity of the issues surrounding cat management and why we need to take a considered approach to any policy changes. 'The findings from this inquiry will also be considered as part of the government's review of the Companion Animals Act which is being looked at for the first time in 20 years.' Dissenting report to inquiry findings The report and its findings drew swift condemnation from parliamentarians, who joined activists groups in calling on Premier Chris Minns to take action. Nationals MLC Scott Barrett has lodged a dissenting statement to the report. He said the report by the Animal Welfare Committee prioritised the rights of cats above native animals. 'Cats are doing untold damage to our native wildlife,' he said. 'Even the government agrees they are a persistent, ongoing and critical threat, yet there seems to be an inclination to look for excuses not to take serious action.' Mr Barrett claimed the inquiry focused on whether desexing and releasing wild cats back into the environment was a 'viable alternative to culling' 'Given the enormous amount of damage cats are doing to our native wildlife, I don't know how anyone can take this prospect seriously.' Greens MLC Sue Higginson mirrored those remarks, stating councils in NSW were 'not just ready, they are desperate' for cat containment laws. 'It's not the state government's role to hold back councils from doing the work their communities want them to do,' she said. 'We don't have to have a blanket, statewide approach. We know that some councils are ready, willing, and able, they just need the laws in place and some resources. 'This is absolutely a moment where the Premier can do good for the environment, do good for local councils … and do well for communities.' Ms Higginson said she 'firmly believed' the report did not reflect the needs of communities across NSW, including in the regions. Cat containment could have 'disproportionate' impact The inquiry received more than 500 submissions and a further 741 short submissions ahead of two public hearings earlier this year. Among them was Local Government NSW, which called for amendments to legislation to enable councils to enforcement cat containment. In a statement, LGNSW president Mayor Phyllis Miller said that while the organisation welcomed some positive recommendations from the inquiry, they were disappointed the committee 'did not support enforceable cat containment policies for councils'. 'However, the NSW government is also conducting a Companion Animals Act review and LGNSW will continue to advocate for councils to be able to adopt such policies,' Ms Miller said. 'Containment prevents roaming, predation, uncontrolled breeding and injuries to cats themselves from vehicle strikes and other animals. 'We welcome the committee's call for urgent cat management strategies, including funding for free and subsidised desexing, as well as education and behaviour change programs. 'Effective management requires a holistic approach: statewide education, desexing, containment, trapping, and adequate funding for councils, welfare and rehoming organisations.' Animal Justice Party MLC Emma Hurst chaired the parliamentary inquiry. She said the inquiry did not hear any 'real evidence' to support cat containment as being effective. 'I think it's something that can continue to be considered going forward, but we really need that evidence base,' she said. 'There's no actual evidence that actually introducing mandatory cat containment laws will actually work to protect wildlife.' Ms Hurst urged for a number of reforms to be contemplated first, including rental rights for pet owners, as well as desexing and feral cats. She described mandatory cat containment as 'punitive', and said it would predominantly affect people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 'We're in the middle of a cost of living crisis,' she said. 'Cats might be the only companion that some people have. 'If that cat escapes, gets outside, is picked up by the pound, and then that person's facing an impounding fee, they're then facing the costs of being able to retrieve that companion and bring them back and then they're facing another fine on top of that of failing to be able to keep that cat contained inside their property. 'They're looking at some quite hefty sort of punitive laws here and the real fear that came forward at the inquiry was people were concerned that.'
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
'Mothers are sobbing': Jacqui Lambie calls for UN to send peacekeepers to Gaza with aid
Senator Jacqui Lambie has said "immediate relief" is needed in Gaza and that the United Nations should send peacekeepers to the region, as concerns grow over reports of starvation and malnutrition. The UN is reporting that thousands of families are enduring "appalling" humanitarian conditions and has estimated that 600 trucks of aid are needed daily to prevent famine in the area. It follows the recent announcement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that Australia will recognise a state of Palestine in September, along with other governments. Lambie 'horrified' by what she has seen in Gaza Jacqui Lambie has called on the United Nations to send peacekeepers to Gaza, telling SBS News such a mission would not interrupt "much hoped for peace talks". "Like most Australians, I am horrified by the pictures and footage of hungry children and desperate parents," she said. "A protective corridor for food aid would bring immediate relief, and it's a solution that would not interfere with much-hoped-for peace talks." The senator is planning to take out advertising endorsing her call, and is expected to petition the government to support it. "Children are starving, mothers are sobbing because they can't feed their children, let alone themselves," she said. "UN peacekeepers have a long history of assisting in humanitarian efforts, including providing security for the delivery of aid. If we are to ease the starvation of children in Gaza, we need blue helmets protecting those aid convoys." Negotiations to secure a US-backed 60-day ceasefire and hostage release ended in deadlock last month and mediators Egypt and Qatar have been trying to revive them. Tensions in the region escalated when Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Israel's subsequent military assault against Hamas has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says. Peacekeeping in the region The UN last year accused Israel of intentionally targeting peacekeeping forces during its military operations in Lebanon. Israeli tanks reportedly breached a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base, as the Israeli Defense Forces stormed northern Lebanon. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged UN peacekeeping forces to leave combat zones, raising concerns from the UN. Several peacekeepers from Ireland and Italy have also been injured during ongoing conflicts from Israeli fire and missile strikes in Lebanon. In a statement to SBS News, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the Australian government has been consistent in its calls for Israel to allow aid to flow to Gaza rapidly, unimpeded and at scale. The Australian government has now committed more than $130 million in humanitarian assistance to help civilians in Gaza and Lebanon since 7 October 2023.
