Australian politics live: Labor pushes to pass minimum hate crime sentences in significant departure from national policy

The Guardian

05-02-2025

Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Martin Farrer
It was a late night for our reporter in Canberra Sarah Basford Canales after the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, last night introduced amendments to the hate crime bill.
The changes will enable minimum jail sentences for threatening force or violence against people on the basis of their race, religion, nationality, national or ethnic origin, political opinion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.
It comes as the government tries to counter the opposition narrative that Labor is not strong enough in dealing with a wave of antisemitic attacks.
Read Sarah's full story here: Share Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Proposed Gaza takeover 'utterly unlawful': UN Special Rapporteur
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, is on ABC RN Breakfast this morning, says President Donald Trump's statement the US 'will take over' Gaza is 'utterly unlawful.
The implications is that the President of the United States says that it's country ready to commit an act of aggression.
She's drawn on whether Anthony Albanese should comment on Trump's statement, which he yesterday refused to do.
Albanese sidestepped repeated questions from journalists, and said he wouldn't give a 'running commentary'.
Francesca Albanese says it's 'pathetic' Australia and other nations aren't speaking out against Trump, and on the ongoing harm Palestinians are facing.
It's pathetic… I think that there are many countries which have a word to say about the two state solution, and then they do not even recognise the state of Palestine. If Australia is not ready to recognise the state of Palestine, it has nothing to say about the two state solution it has nothing to contribute with when it comes to the two state solution, but it still has obligations under international law not to aid and assist a system that is committing international crimes. Share
Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson, who's been a key proponent of minimum mandatory sentencing has been up on the amendments to the hate crimes bill this morning.
One of the concerns Labor has had is that mandatory sentences take away the discretionary power of judges. To that Paterson tells Sky News:
There really is no discretion here. We have set a mandatory minimum sentence. The judges are free to impose sentences a lot longer than those mandatory minimums, and there'll be some cases where that's very necessary for very serious terrorism offences, people can be jailed for 20 years or more
As mentioned earlier, the amendment goes against Labor's national platform which states the 'practice does not reduce crime but does undermine the independence of the judiciary, lead to unjust outcomes and is often discriminatory in practice'.
You can read more about that from my colleague Sarah Basford-Canales: Share
Mark Butler says PM has committed to five-year plan as part of $1.7bn for states and territories
The federal health minister is on ABC AM this morning, following up on his announcement with the PM to give states and territories $1.7bn in additional funding for a year.
Mark Butler says Anthony Albanese has committed to establishing a five-year plan but ran out of time due to the WA election. He's also a bit stronger this morning on holding the states and territories over NDIS reforms.
He says the national cabinet agreed health funding directives would be tied to the NDIS reforms.
Although we're making really good progress on NDIS reform, that's not moving as quickly as, frankly, would have allowed us to get a health funding deal done in time.
Butler also says progress on foundational supports by the states, which are supposed to support people outside the NDIS, is proceeding 'very well'.
We're satisfied with our progress. We're very confident we're going to get to where we need to be on NDIS reform and ultimately with hospital funding deals as well. But in the interim, we're committed to being more reliable partner on hospital funding. Share
Anika Wells defends Labor's backflip on mandatory minimum sentencing
The hate crimes bill will be debated in parliament today, and it's already dominating the morning interviews.
Government frontbencher Anika Wells was on the Nine's morning show, Today, earlier, defending Labor's decision to go against its national platform to accept the amendments on mandatory minimum sentencing from the Coalition.
We as a Labor government try to listen, try to listen to community sentiment and act where people want us to act. And, I think, this is us being responsive to community sentiment.
Asked why it's taken so long to act, she said she 'wouldn't agree with that premise whatsoever'. Share Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you as we continue on the first sitting week of the year.
The prime minister is in Townsville this morning with the Queensland premier. He'll be doing a few interviews so we can expect some updates on the floods.
He'll likely also be challenged on the government's decision to back the Coalition's amendments on Labor's hate crimes bill, to introduce mandatory sentencing for some terrorism offences and displaying hate symbols. As we've reported, it goes against Labor's national platform, and the amendments will be voted on today.
It's going to be a big one, so hang on!
Let's get this started. Share
Australian gas in Asia would provide 'biggest bang for buck', says O'Neill
Australian energy companies are considering gas's potential in Asian markets, with O'Neill stressing it would be key to securing the 'biggest bang for buck' for decarbonisation.
She argued that switching 20% of the continent's coal-fired power stations to gas would slash emissions by 680m tonnes a year, equivalent to one-and-a-half times Australia's total annual net greenhouse gas emissions.
The reality is we get far more impact from replacing coal in Asia with Australian [liquefied natural gas] than we do from asking Australian consumers to switch their household appliances from gas to electric. Share
The Trump administration's early action on deregulation and energy investment add to 'acute' challenges facing Australian producers, Australian Associated Press reports.
The boss of Australia's biggest energy producer, Woodside, will sound the warning in an address to the Melbourne Mining Club today.
Meg O'Neill is urging the nation to stay focused on being competitive in global markets, pushing for an energy policy debate 'based on science and facts, not wishful thinking'.
'Amid rising global protectionism and greater competition for capital, Australia must sharpen its competitive edge even further,' she will say.
'Moves by the new administration in the US to deregulate the economy and spur new energy investments make the challenge for countries like Australia even more acute.'
US president Donald Trump has promised to 'unleash' reliable energy and natural resources by scrapping regulations and encouraging more energy exploration in the US, while threatening tariffs on imports.
O'Neill is also targeting environmental approvals at home, urging the federal government to allow an extension to a Woodside project in Western Australia that's been tied up for years.
'We understand the need for robust environmental assessment, but when an approval to continue to use existing infrastructure takes more than six years, it's in nobody's interests,' she will say.
'It does not give Australia a competitive edge, or better environmental outcomes.' Share Martin Farrer
This year's election will swing, just like so many others round the world last year, on the cost of living – and whether people feel better off or not than they did when they last voted. Almost half of the increase in cost of living for Australians since 2022 is due to higher interest rates Photograph: ABS
It's one of the reasons Labor is struggling in the polls but, as our columnist Greg Jericho argues today, the government has done much to tame the inflation demon without getting much credit.
Read his column here which is, as usual, packed with some great charts. Share Martin Farrer
It was a late night for our reporter in Canberra Sarah Basford Canales after the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, last night introduced amendments to the hate crime bill.
The changes will enable minimum jail sentences for threatening force or violence against people on the basis of their race, religion, nationality, national or ethnic origin, political opinion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.
It comes as the government tries to counter the opposition narrative that Labor is not strong enough in dealing with a wave of antisemitic attacks.
Read Sarah's full story here: Share Martin Farrer
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer bringing you the top overnight stories before Krishani Dhanji guides you through the day.
The government's attempts to look tougher on the issue of antisemitism will be the focus of a lot of activity today after the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said last night that he would attempt to pass legislation setting minimum jail sentences of between one and six years for hate speech crimes. The Greens say Labor caved to pressure from the Coalition. We've got more coming up, while in New South Wales, the premier, Chris Minns, proposed legislation that could make certain types of protests outside places of worship a criminal offence.
The fallout from Donald Trump's assault on global governance and norms continues today with Australian aid workers warning about the potentially 'catastrophic' impact of his plans to freeze foreign aid. Staff have described 'chaos' and 'total panic' as they try to work out what the policy means.
The boss of our biggest energy producer warns today that the US president's plans to shake up the energy market present 'acute' challenges for Australia. In an address to the Melbourne Mining Club today, Meg O'Neill, the CEO of Woodside Petroleum, will urge Australia to stay focused on being competitive in global markets, pushing for an energy policy debate 'based on science and facts, not wishful thinking'. More coming up. Share