Tensions flare as NSW premier's staffers grilled at hoax terror plot inquiry
Five New South Wales political staffers began giving evidence at the parliamentary inquiry on Friday morning.
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SBS Australia
6 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Evening News Bulletin 28 June 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . Donald Trump says he believes Gaza ceasefire possible within a week... Victorian Opposition slams government for new delays to over-budget metro line... Queensland superstar Kalyn Ponga ruled out of the State of Origin series decider with a foot injury. United States President Donald Trump says he believes it is possible that a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict will be reached within a week. At an Oval Office event celebrating a Congo-Rwanda peace deal, Mr Trump has told reporters he believes a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is close, but has failed to provide additional detail. "I think it's close. I just spoke with some of the people involved and we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire and we're supplying, as you know, a lot of money and a lot of food to that area because we have to. It's too bad other countries aren't helping out. Nobody's helping out, we're doing that because I think we have to on a humanitarian basis." The United Nations says at least 410 Palestinians have been shot and killed while waiting for food aid to be delivered by a U-S and Israeli-approved organisation over the last month and Israel continues to block other efforts from the international community to deliver aid to the region. The Victorian government is attempting to downplay reports of delays in construction and testing of the $15 billion Melbourne Metro Tunnel, with the train line now not set to open for regular commuter services until early 2026. The Age reports the government is planning, what they call, a "soft opening" of the Metro in November of this year for limited off-peak much-delayed and over-budget project was initially slated to be finished by September 2024, and the Allan government has reportedly offered the construction companies over a billion dollars if they could finish the project by this Opposition leader Brad Battin says the delay and increasing cost of the project is unacceptable. "No one knows when it's going to open. No one knows which stations will open and no one knows how many trains will be able to go through during peak and off-peak times. How can a government spend billions of dollars and not have the plan ready and know exactly what time those stations will open and how often trains can operate. And the government won't come out and be honest on exactly how they've wasted that money. It's too important here in Victoria to understand, for every Victorian, where is our money going?" The New South Wales government has defended a controversial bill aimed at reforming the state's workers compensation scheme, including changes making it more difficult to receive ongoing support for psychological injury. Unions, academics and healthcare professionals have raised alarm about a proposal in the bill which will more than double the threshold for workers seeking ongoing support for a psychological injury beyond two-and-a-half years. Unions New South Wales has told an inquiry into the bill that this increase would disqualify 95 per cent of workers with permanent psychological injuries. The Coalition has agreed and have so far helped block the bill, with state Opposition leader Mark Speakman saying the change would punish the most severely injured workers. Sophie Cotsis, New South Wales Minister for Work Health and Safety, says the government is investing close to $128 million in prevention efforts to avoid lasting injury. "We will have an additional 51 safe work inspectors. This is historic. There will be 20 inspectors dedicated to psycho-social matters at work. This is a huge investment supporting early intervention, prevention, supporting workers and businesses." The Greens have condemned what they've described as brutal and excessive police force shown towards former candidate for Grayndler, Hannah Thomas, who has now undergone surgery after an arrest at a pro-Palestine protest. The 35-year-old lawyer and activist who ran against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in his Inner-West seat last month was photographed with a bruised and bloodied face after picketing a business reportedly supplying parts for jets used by the Israeli military. She has now reportedly undergone surgery for serious facial injuries. Greens MP Sue Higginson and Senator David Shoebridge have issued a statement calling for Police Minister Yasmin Catley to investigate the arrest as a critical incident. Police say four others were arrested at the protest, including a 24-year-old man who they claim temporarily stole a police body worn camera. Kalyn Ponga is out of the State of Origin series decider, after scans confirmed the Queensland superstar has suffered a foot injury. Newcastle has confirmed Ponga is set for a lengthy stint out, less than 12 hours after picking up the injury in the loss to Canberra. The injury is a serious blow to the Maroons, given their game-two win in Perth had offered Billy Slater the prospect of keeping the team intact for the Sydney battle. It will potentially open the door for Reece Walsh to return to the Queensland number-one jersey, after his own return to form for Brisbane. The State of Origin decider kicks off on Wednesday, July 9 at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- News.com.au
New push to end controversial protections for NSW's Snowy Mountain brumbies
The future of NSW's Snowy Mountain brumbies may hang in the balance if a new bill is passed to repeal controversial protections for the invasive species. Independent Wagga Wagga MP Joe McGirr gave notice on Wednesday of his intention to introduce a Bill to repeal the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act. The Act, introduced by former deputy premier John Barilaro, recognised the 'heritage' value of brumbies and mandated their population be reduced to 3000. While it will be years until a new target is set, Invasive Species CEO Jack Gough said even one horse in Kosciuszko would cause 'enormous amounts of damage'. 'The question is the scale of damage that we're prepared to accept,' Mr Gough said alongside Mr McGirr on Wednesday. 'Having 1/3 of the national park set up as an area that is essentially a horse paddock instead of a national park is not something that Australians want.' Mr Gough admitted it would be difficult to reduce the number of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park to zero, but stressed the risk the brumbies posed. 'We know that the Australian landscape did not evolve with large, heavy, hard-hoofed animals that are cutting up that landscape,' he said. 'They are draining the peat moss and are causing enormous amount of damage to the homes of our native species.' In May, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service reported as few as 1500 brumbies may be left in the park following extensive aerial culling. While images released by the Park service showed recovery to the fragile alpine ecosystem, the method of reducing horse numbers has been controversial. Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said there was 'no justification' for aerial shooting at Kosciuszko, and that the party would not be supporting Mr McGirr's bill. If it was passed, she expressed concern it would result in a 'push to kill any remaining animals that are there in the park'. 'The push to actually repeal this act, to open the doors to allow for that killing is mind boggling,' she said. Ms Hurst called on NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe to 'keep her word' about aerial shooting. Ms Sharpe told a budget estimates committee aerial shooting had 'ceased for now' in the horse retention area after the population reports were released. Further aerial shooting has taken place outside of the retention area from June 10 until June 30, targeting 'all feral animals'. In a statement, Ms Sharpe said the state government was close to reaching the legislated targeted of 3000 wild horses in Kosciuszko, two years ahead of deadline. 'We're now focused on population management,' she said. 'We will have a look at the Bill, as we do with all Bills.' Future of the Brumby Bill remains unclear If passed, the Mr McGirr's bill would create a transition period from January 1 until July 1, 2027, at which point the previous management plan would end. The Wild Horses Community Advisory Panel will also be dissolved, with the state government freed up to create a new management plan. On Wednesday, Mr Gough and Mr McGirr expressed their confidence that the Bill would be approved with support from Labor and Liberals. Mr Gough said the so-called Brumby Bill had 'no friends left' in either the upper or lower houses, including from the Liberals, Greens, and Labor. Ms Hurst was less certain, raising the possibility it may not be supported by Nationals Party or the Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers party. Australian Brumby Alliance President Nikki Alberts is part of a vocal minority in the community who stridently oppose the shooting of brumbies in the park. She also expressed fears that if the Heritage Act was repealed 'they'll go in and shoot them (the brumbies) all'. Ms Alberts said the Alliance had put forward a proposal for management of the brumby population, with a focus on rehoming.
ABC News
9 hours ago
- ABC News
Tensions flare as NSW premier's staffers grilled at hoax terror plot inquiry
Five New South Wales political staffers began giving evidence at the parliamentary inquiry on Friday morning.
