Albanese dismisses Hamas propaganda applauding recognition
A statement on a Telegram channel in Hamas' name on Thursday disavowed comments reported in this masthead on Wednesday, quoting senior Hamas official Hassan Yousef applauding Australia for committing to recognise a Palestinian state.
'The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) denies the issuance of any statement by Sheikh Hassan Yousef, detained in occupation jails since October 19, 2023, on the Australian position regarding the recognition of the Palestinian state,' reads the new statement.
'Hamas affirms that Sheikh Hassan is held in poor detention conditions, cut off from the outside world, and has no means of communication with any local or international press outlets.'
The original comments were provided to this masthead on Tuesday by Yousef's political office in Beitunia, a town near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, which issues statements on his behalf.
Contacted on Thursday, a spokesperson for the office confirmed it had released the statement and that Youssef was still in jail, but said he was expected to be released soon.
'Hamas do not want a two-state solution,' Albanese told reporters at a press conference in Moreton Bay, Queensland.
'What they want is one state and I notice in the statement that's made today, they say that the alleged statement from the person yesterday [came from] someone who's been in prison in Israel since October 2023, and has no means of communication.
'What that should be is a warning to the media of being very careful about the fact that Hamas will engage in propaganda because what is happening is the international community are united about isolating Hamas, about supporting a peaceful way forward.'
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The Advertiser
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State celebrates major milestone for women in politics
August marks 100 years since NSW elected its first woman to parliament, feminist and temperance campaigner Millicent Preston-Stanley. While Australian women were given the right to vote and stand in federal elections in 1902, it took the states longer to catch up. Opponents to females in the state's legislature argued that they couldn't match it with men for knowledge of mining, land laws and other matters dealt with by elected MPs, according to former High Court justice Virginia Bell. Nevertheless, NSW parliament passed a law in 1918 - the Women's Legal Status Act - which allowed the then so-called fairer sex to be elected as members of parliament, appointed judges or magistrates and admitted as solicitors or barristers. "An undercurrent in the Hansard debates on the bill was the view that its enactment wasn't going to disrupt the (status quo)," Ms Bell this week said at a NSW parliament event celebrating the centenary of Ms Preston-Stanley's election. "The electorate, it was felt, was not going to return women as members and the legal profession wasn't going to be overwhelmed by them, either." In 1925, Ms Preston-Stanley became the first woman elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly as a Nationalist Party representative for the eastern suburbs, nearly 25 years after women gained the right to vote. On August 25 that year she became the first woman to speak on the floor of the house as an elected member, delivering her maiden speech. A staunch feminist and trailblazer, Ms Preston-Stanley was a fierce advocate for women and children, laying the foundations for reforms in maternal health, child welfare and housing for women. During her time in parliament, she advocated for fairer divorce laws, better healthcare for mothers and improved protection for children. In 1927, Ms Preston-Stanley's seat was abolished and she failed to be re-elected in another electorate. However under her leadership, a private professional women's lobby known as the Feminist Club stood apart from many other women's organisations during the period which primarily concerned themselves with home keeping, family and religion. She also kept working to encourage other women into politics. Progress was slow, with only three females elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 50 years after her election. Now, more than 150 women have served as members of the NSW parliament. Women make up about 42 per cent of the NSW Legislative Assembly today, a remarkable progression from Ms Preston-Stanley's time as the sole female voice in the chamber. "She was a truly remarkable, staunch trailblazer and it's very fitting that her pioneering advocacy for women should be acknowledged," Ms Bell said. Ms Preston-Stanley married former South Australian premier Crawford Vaughan in 1934. She died in June 1955, aged 71. August marks 100 years since NSW elected its first woman to parliament, feminist and temperance campaigner Millicent Preston-Stanley. While Australian women were given the right to vote and stand in federal elections in 1902, it took the states longer to catch up. Opponents to females in the state's legislature argued that they couldn't match it with men for knowledge of mining, land laws and other matters dealt with by elected MPs, according to former High Court justice Virginia Bell. Nevertheless, NSW parliament passed a law in 1918 - the Women's Legal Status Act - which allowed the then so-called fairer sex to be elected as members of parliament, appointed judges or magistrates and admitted as solicitors or barristers. "An undercurrent in the Hansard debates on the bill was the view that its enactment wasn't going to disrupt the (status quo)," Ms Bell this week said at a NSW parliament event celebrating the centenary of Ms Preston-Stanley's election. "The electorate, it was felt, was not going to return women as members and the legal profession wasn't going to be overwhelmed by them, either." In 1925, Ms Preston-Stanley became the first woman elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly as a Nationalist Party representative for the eastern suburbs, nearly 25 years after women gained the right to vote. On August 25 that year she became the first woman to speak on the floor of the house as an elected member, delivering her maiden speech. A staunch feminist and trailblazer, Ms Preston-Stanley was a fierce advocate for women and children, laying the foundations for reforms in maternal health, child welfare and housing for women. During her time in parliament, she advocated for fairer divorce laws, better healthcare for mothers and improved protection for children. In 1927, Ms Preston-Stanley's seat was abolished and she failed to be re-elected in another electorate. However under her leadership, a private professional women's lobby known as the Feminist Club stood apart from many other women's organisations during the period which primarily concerned themselves with home keeping, family and religion. She also kept working to encourage other women into politics. Progress was slow, with only three females elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 50 years after her election. Now, more than 150 women have served as members of the NSW parliament. Women make up about 42 per cent of the NSW Legislative Assembly today, a remarkable progression from Ms Preston-Stanley's time as the sole female voice in the chamber. "She was a truly remarkable, staunch trailblazer and it's very fitting that her pioneering advocacy for women should be acknowledged," Ms Bell said. Ms Preston-Stanley married former South Australian premier Crawford Vaughan in 1934. She died in June 1955, aged 71. August marks 100 years since NSW elected its first woman to parliament, feminist and temperance campaigner Millicent Preston-Stanley. While Australian women were given the right to vote and stand in federal elections in 1902, it took the states longer to catch up. Opponents to females in the state's legislature argued that they couldn't match it with men for knowledge of mining, land laws and other matters dealt with by elected MPs, according to former High Court justice Virginia Bell. Nevertheless, NSW parliament passed a law in 1918 - the Women's Legal Status Act - which allowed the then so-called fairer sex to be elected as members of parliament, appointed judges or magistrates and admitted as solicitors or barristers. "An undercurrent in the Hansard debates on the bill was the view that its enactment wasn't going to disrupt the (status quo)," Ms Bell this week said at a NSW parliament event celebrating the centenary of Ms Preston-Stanley's election. 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However under her leadership, a private professional women's lobby known as the Feminist Club stood apart from many other women's organisations during the period which primarily concerned themselves with home keeping, family and religion. She also kept working to encourage other women into politics. Progress was slow, with only three females elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 50 years after her election. Now, more than 150 women have served as members of the NSW parliament. Women make up about 42 per cent of the NSW Legislative Assembly today, a remarkable progression from Ms Preston-Stanley's time as the sole female voice in the chamber. "She was a truly remarkable, staunch trailblazer and it's very fitting that her pioneering advocacy for women should be acknowledged," Ms Bell said. Ms Preston-Stanley married former South Australian premier Crawford Vaughan in 1934. She died in June 1955, aged 71. 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"The electorate, it was felt, was not going to return women as members and the legal profession wasn't going to be overwhelmed by them, either." In 1925, Ms Preston-Stanley became the first woman elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly as a Nationalist Party representative for the eastern suburbs, nearly 25 years after women gained the right to vote. On August 25 that year she became the first woman to speak on the floor of the house as an elected member, delivering her maiden speech. A staunch feminist and trailblazer, Ms Preston-Stanley was a fierce advocate for women and children, laying the foundations for reforms in maternal health, child welfare and housing for women. During her time in parliament, she advocated for fairer divorce laws, better healthcare for mothers and improved protection for children. In 1927, Ms Preston-Stanley's seat was abolished and she failed to be re-elected in another electorate. However under her leadership, a private professional women's lobby known as the Feminist Club stood apart from many other women's organisations during the period which primarily concerned themselves with home keeping, family and religion. She also kept working to encourage other women into politics. Progress was slow, with only three females elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 50 years after her election. Now, more than 150 women have served as members of the NSW parliament. Women make up about 42 per cent of the NSW Legislative Assembly today, a remarkable progression from Ms Preston-Stanley's time as the sole female voice in the chamber. "She was a truly remarkable, staunch trailblazer and it's very fitting that her pioneering advocacy for women should be acknowledged," Ms Bell said. Ms Preston-Stanley married former South Australian premier Crawford Vaughan in 1934. She died in June 1955, aged 71.
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Far-right Israeli minister posts video of confrontation with imprisoned Palestinian leader
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