Australia news live: Minns condemns vandalism of NSW police monument; Victorians brace for searing heat

The Guardian

26-01-2025

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Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has taken a veiled swipe at the federal opposition in statements made from Poland on Sunday.
Dreyfus and foreign minister Penny Wong are in Krakow to attend the service marking the liberation of Auschwitz, which will take place early Tuesday morning, Australian time. (That ceremony will also be attended by King Charles.)
About 1.1 million people were murdered in the concentration camp before it was emancipated on 27 January 1945.
Dreyfus told reporters on Sunday:
My great-grandmother, Ida Ransenberg, then aged 60, was murdered at Auschwitz on the 14th of October, 1942.
We're at this commemoration to acknowledge the magnificent contribution that's been made by Jews to our own Australian community, including the very many survivors of the Holocaust who found their way to Australia, particularly after the war.
Dreyfus said it was important to 'reject attempts to politicise the Holocaust or to politicise anti-Semitism'.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has repeatedly criticised the government for its handling of anti-Semitism and has suggested those who commit terrorism offences or display hate symbols be sentenced to mandatory jail time, despite concerns from legal experts.
– With AAP Share
NSW police minister says wall of remembrance vandals are 'cowards'
The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, has released a strong statement on the damage to the police memorial, saying the people who vandalised the monument are 'cowards':
Over the weekend, the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance was significantly damaged with disgusting graffiti etched into it.
This is a sacred site, which honours officers killed in the line of duty. For it to be defaced is the lowest of acts.
Our police officers sacrifice their personal safety every day for our state – for that they should be celebrated, not subjected to vile attacks.
Police are investigating and will leave no stone unturned in order to identify and arrest the cowards responsible.
Anyone with any information or video must contact Crime Stoppers. Share
More on that vandalism of the police monument in Sydney's Domain
NSW police are investigating what they say is significant damage to the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance, which was erected in memory of police officers killed in the line of duty.
Police believe the vandalism took place at about 3.15am on Saturday, and was seen by on-duty officers around midday on Sunday. A crime scene has been established and the City of Sydney is assisting with remedial and repair works.
The premier, Chris Minns, released a statement on the incident this morning. Here it is in full:
I've been made aware that the police monument in the Domain has been significantly vandalised.
This is disgusting behaviour. Police put themselves in danger every day in the service of our state.
To deface a memorial that commemorates police officers who have served the State, and those who have lost their lives whilst on duty is lower than low. Share Josh Butler
Peter Dutton says Holocaust education an important mission
In his statement for International Holocaust Day, Peter Dutton, the opposition leader, drew parallels between current antisemitism and the Holocaust.
The weight of history will be especially felt by survivors and their families this International Holocaust Remembrance Day with 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
In the magnitude of antisemitism which is plaguing western democracies today – including Australia – many citizens who have read about the history and horrors of the Holocaust have, for the first time, grasped how that catastrophe eventuated. They have seen, with their own eyes, a type of hate that, if left unchecked, unleashes greater evils.
Dutton will be in Perth on Monday to confirm a pledge of $2m for the Holocaust Institute of Western Australia.
He said of the announcement:
Educating Australians about atrocities of the Holocaust and the October 7 attacks is an important mission that deserves support.
By gaining awareness of the persecution and atrocities committed against Jews, Australians will have a better understanding of why there is no place for antisemitism in our community. Share Josh Butler
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have both released statements overnight on International Holocaust Day, referencing the recent spate of antisemitism in Australia and globally.
The prime minister said the world 'cannot allow the Holocaust to recede into history':
It was a pitiless and unrelenting act of cruelty that was long in the planning, cold in its calculation, and carried out on a scale that falls across the decades like a terrible shadow.
The devastation felt when witnessing the horror, destruction and brutality inflicted by Hamas on October 7 is reminiscent of the dark and painful stories of the past. For the Australian Jewish community, those are the stories of their families.
Albanese said Jewish Australians 'are integral to the story of Australia'.
We embraced the Jewish community then, and we embrace you now.
Tragically, we are not yet free of antisemitism. It stands in vile opposition to all we are as a nation and all that we have built – together – over generations. We will not tolerate it in any form. It has no place in our nation, and we will combat it with the full force of our laws and with total commitment from every level of government. Share
Good morning. Welcome to this public holiday Monday news liveblog. I'm Stephanie Convery and I'll be with you right through until early afternoon.
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has described vandalism to the police monument in Sydney's Domain over the weekend as 'disgusting behaviour'. He said in a statement this morning that the vandals, who appear to have damaged and graffitied the monument, are 'lower than low'.
Meanwhile, the NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, has said police are investigating and 'will leave no stone unturned' to find the culprits.
We'll bring you more on that shortly.
And Victorians are expecting to swelter through the public holiday, with temperatures between 12 and 14C above average and maximum temperatures reaching up to 45C in parts of the state. Melbourne is expecting to hit 41C by late afternoon. There are total fire bans in place in many parts of the state, and thunderstorms developing later in the day.
Grab a coffee and let's find out what's happening around the country. Share