Guardian Essential report: Albanese starts second term with solid approval, but Trump presidency looms
All the way with Donald J? Albanese's second term will be defined by how he handles the elephant in the room – Peter Lewis
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Scots schools must continue to invest in libraries to protect children's futures
Glasgow City Council is considering removing librarians from 30 schools, but Record View demands that they think again. School libraries play a crucial role in expanding the minds of pupils. Not every child grows up in a house with books. For some youngsters, a school library is where they discover a lifelong appreciation of books. So it's deeply concerning that Glasgow City Council is considering removing the position of librarian from its 30 secondary schools. While there are no plans to close the libraries, the loss of such experienced professionals would be devastating. In these financially straitened times, all local authorities must make difficult decisions to balance their books. But it seems perverse that cutting cash from the school libraries budget would even be considered in the first place. Councils are being forced into these choices by a council tax freeze that has devastated local services. The freeze was brought in by the SNP to try to tackle soaring household bills. This was considered a vote winner by successive first ministers and enjoyed widespread support. Now the freeze has been lifted and bills have gone up again but the damage done to local services is still being felt. But before councils resort to measures like removing librarians from our high schools, they must think of the impact on young people. This generation of high school pupils has already lost years of schooling through the Covid lockdowns. They deserve to have their services protected – especially those which help them expand their horizons. Libraries can play as crucial a role for kids as classrooms. They deserve investment – not cutbacks. The city council must think again and keep its librarians. He's Don a U-turn Stock markets around the world slumped again as US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on more than 90 countries. Trump is touting tariffs as the answer to trade deficits with other nations – but clearly the move will slow the global economy and devastate jobs. During his visit to Scotland last weekend, it appeared that Trump was on a more reasonable course. It may have been the sea air at Turnberry and Aberdeenshire that made him mellow, as he appeared to open a window of opportunity to get a deal done on whisky tariffs. But now he's back on the warpath and using the threat of tariffs to get his own way with countries that should be allies. It's typical of this erratic, unpredictable figure that he would say one thing one week, and something different the next. The world will be much safer and more prosperous place when his time in office finally ends.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Wong criticises Israel's conduct in Gaza in closed-door meeting with Israeli ambassador
In a private meeting with Israel's ambassador to Australia, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, criticised Israel's conduct in Gaza and called for it to urgently comply with international law and increase the supply of food to Palestinians. Wong's Thursday meeting with Amir Maimon was requested by the Israeli embassy, according to federal government sources, and took place inside Wong's office at Parliament House in Canberra. The meeting was held days after Australia joined 27 other countries in condemning Israel for denying humanitarian aid to Palestinians. At the time, Wong said the decision to sign the statement reflected the 'concern' and 'distress' Australians felt from seeing the images of starving Palestinians in Gaza. Sign up: AU Breaking News email The Thursday discussion followed another meeting between Maimon and lower-level foreign affairs officials in Canberra earlier in the week, as reported by the Nine Newspapers. Australian sources said Wong repeated her public criticism of Israel's conduct in Gaza during the meeting with Maimon. This included a request for Israel to comply with international law and ensure enough food was being provided to Palestinians. Wong's office declined to comment on the meeting, and the Israeli embassy has been contacted for comment. Before both meetings took place, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, accused Israel of 'clearly' breaching international law and said Benjamin Netanyahu's government was 'losing support' internationally. After those comments, Wong said: 'It is forbidden to withhold aid from civilians, that is not consistent with international law, but actually, just as importantly, it's morally the wrong thing to do.' Earlier in the week, a select group of journalists attended a briefing at the Israeli embassy where Israel's deputy ambassador, Amir Meron, reportedly said: 'We don't recognise any famine or any starvation in the Gaza Strip.' In response, Albanese said that statement was 'beyond comprehension' and raised concerns about Israel restricting journalists from visiting the war-torn Palestinian territory. Dozens of Palestinians have died of hunger in recent weeks in a crisis attributed by the UN and other humanitarian organisations to Israel's blockade of almost all aid into the territory. Two Israeli-based rights groups this week declared that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza, with reports citing evidence including the weaponisation of hunger. B'tselem described an 'official and openly declared policy' of mass starvation. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion On Wednesday, Australia joined 14 other countries in describing the recognition of Palestine as 'an essential step towards the two-state solution', linking progress on statehood to the upcoming United Nations general assembly meeting in September. But Albanese also criticised calls for further actions against Israel as 'slogans' as he faced intensifying pressure from his MPs, Labor members and the Greens to reconsider his position on the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He has so far stopped short of matching his UK counterpart Keir Starmer's promise to recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel abides by a ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution. 'What I've said is that it's not the timeline, that's not what we're looking at. What we're looking at is the circumstances where recognition will advance the objective of the creation of two states,' Albanese said on Wednesday, a day before Wong met Maimon.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Work from home to soon become a legal right for millions of Victorians
The Victorian government is set to enshrine the right to work from home in law, with sweeping reforms that will apply across both the public and private sectors. Premier Jacinta Allan will unveil the landmark policy at the annual state Labor conference, describing it as a progressive move to modernise the workforce and support families. 'Working from home works for families, and it's good for the economy,' she will say. 'Day after day, unions are being contacted by workers who have been denied reasonable requests to work from home. 'Across the country, Liberals are drawing up plans to abolish work-from-home and force workers back to the office, and back to the past. 'That's why the Allan Labor government is acting. Enshrining work from home in law means this life-changing practice isn't something you or your loved ones have to politely ask for. It's a right you'll be entitled to.' The proposed legislation would give workers a legal right to request remote work two days a week if they can 'reasonably' perform their duties from home. Employers would be required to give the requests proper consideration, with a formal consultation process set to begin soon as the legislation is introduced later this year. Ms Allan also pointed to the cost of living relief the policy would offer, estimating it could save workers around $110 per week, or more than $5,300 a year in commuting and related expenses. 'Work from home supports women with children, carers, and people with a disability to work,' she said. 'Thanks to work from home, workforce participation is 4.4 per cent higher than before the pandemic.' Opposition Leader Brad Battin has dismissed claims the Liberals opposed the laws, telling Daily Mail the party supports work-from-home flexibility. 'The Victorian Liberals and Nationals recognise that working from home has become a valuable option for many workers and families,' Mr Battin said. 'We support measures that help Victorians enjoy a better work-life balance and will review any legislation closely, to ensure it supports flexibility, productivity, and personal choice.' His comments contrast with those of former federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who was forced to retreat from a policy limiting work-from-home rights for public servants after widespread backlash during the last election campaign. In addition to the proposed work-from-home reforms, Victorian Labor will also debate a raft of controversial policy ideas at the state conference on Saturday, including new taxes and major social reforms. More than 600 party delegates, including MPs, grassroots members and union representatives, will vote on a series of proposals that could shape the ALP's platform ahead of the 2026 state election. Among the most contentious items is a push to raise taxes on Victorian residents, despite the state already being the most heavily taxed in the country. Other proposals include introducing a super profits tax on land sales and legalising cannabis for recreational use. The outcomes of the weekend's debate will play a critical role in defining Premier Jacinta Allan's policy agenda over the next 18 months, with an election set for November next year.
