Why Australia sanctioned Israeli Ministers
And Australia has joined with the UK, New Zealand, Canada and Norway to issue Magnitsky style sanctions against two Israeli Ministers, in a move which Foreign Minister Penny Wong shows the "level of concern" Australia has about what is occurring.
The joint statement claims the Ministers have "incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights", but the Albanese Government is already facing criticism from the US and Israel — as well as closer to home.
And ex-Greens Senator Dorinda Cox has accused her former party of a "toxic culture" and racism, in an explosive resignation letter. It comes just a week after she defected from the Greens to Labor.
Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.
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ABC News
43 minutes ago
- ABC News
Man who almost lost hand in alleged machete attack gets visa extension
A man who almost lost his hand in an alleged machete attack has been granted a new visa so his medical treatment can continue in Australia. 7.30 can reveal that 33-year-old Indian national Saurabh Anand was granted the visa and is on a pathway to permanent residency after the federal government considered his case on compassionate grounds. Mr Anand survived the incident which allegedly occurred at a shopping centre in Altona Meadows just under a month ago. Five teenagers have been charged over the alleged attack including a 15-year-old boy arrested last Thursday. Mr Anand was facing deportation as his temporary visa was due to expire on August 25. The new visa will allow him to stay for up to two years, but he is also on a pathway to become a permanent resident of Australia. He says his health has been on rapid decline due to the severity of his injuries and pain. "This is a moment where I feel relieved that the government and the community has come together to support me through one of the most horrifying moments in my life," Mr Anand told 7.30. Mr Anand said the decision has rekindled his hope in humanity. Mr Anand and his mother Nitin Anand met with his local MP Tim Watts and Assistant Minister for Citizenship Julian Hill to receive the new visa. In a short meeting at the electorate office of Mr Watts, Mr Hill signed documents which granted the extension. The local MP offered Indian sweets to Mr Anand and his mother following the signing. In a poignant moment Ms Anand then took the sweets and offered them back to the two assistant ministers as a gesture of thanks for their decision. "If you have some I will have some," Mr Watts said to Ms Anand. Documents granting a two-year renewal to his subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa were signed after Mr Anand was briefly taken temporarily into administrative detention to process the claim. Under law, it is an administrative requirement for the short detention period to take place so that the new can be granted. The decision was made under Section 195A of the Migration Act, which allows the minister to grant a detained person a visa if it was in the public interest. Mr Hill told 7.30 he was moved by Mr Anand's case. "It's the right thing to do, but also I'd hope as an Australian that if my daughter or any of our sons and daughters were in a foreign land and had been contributing to that country and ended up in a similar circumstance that another country would treat our sons and daughters as well." His recovery and treatment could take up to 12 months. "I am taking one day at a time, every day gives me a new hope, and this is a new hope for me," he said. "But as of the recovery, both physical and mental, exertion is there. "And it's going to be a long journey. "I'd like to thank everyone who has been supporting me throughout the community." On August 7, following the airing of a 7.30 story about Mr Anand's case in which he and his mother pleaded for help from the government, Mr Anand wrote to the minister seeking "urgent attention" to his case. In the email, he detailed how he was allegedly assaulted and the local medical care required for his recovery. "My injuries were so severe that it took over five hours for surgeons to reconstruct and reattach my left arm and hand, which had been nearly severed," he wrote. "Despite their efforts, I have lost approximately 80 per cent sensation in my left arm, hand, and fingers, and currently suffer from excruciating pain, multiple fractures, severed nerves, tendons, and muscles." Mr Anand has worked as a sales representative during his time in Australia and said that before his attack, he intended to move his career into the field of artificial intelligence. "I have lived in Australia for over seven years," he wrote in his email to the minister. "I have always abided by Australian laws and contributed to the community, "I am the only son of my widowed mother in India, and this incident has left me emotionally and financially devastated. "I place my hope in your compassion and kindness during this incredibly difficult period." Since the alleged attach in July attack Mr Anand has received support and visitation from both sides of politics including Victorian State Liberal MP Moira Deeming. Ms Deeming wrote to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on August 7 to plead for Mr Anand to be granted a bridging visa. The federal government will now move to grant Mr Anand permanent residency pending character checks and a full process through the Department of Home Affairs. Mr Hill said Mr Anand's work in Australia were key factors in his decision. "He studied a high-quality [degree], a master's at RMIT, and he's worked and contributed to the community," he said. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
ABC News
43 minutes ago
- ABC News
Israeli military prepares relocations to southern Gaza as US cancels Palestinian visitor visas
Gaza residents will be provided with tents and other shelter equipment starting from Sunday ahead of relocating them from combat zones to "safe" ones in the south of the enclave, the Israeli military said. This comes days after Israel said it intended to launch a new offensive to seize control of northern Gaza City in a plan that raised international alarm over the fate of the strip, home to about 2.2 million people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that before launching the offensive the civilian population would be evacuated to what he described as "safe zones" from Gaza City, which he called Hamas' last stronghold. The shelter equipment will be transferred via the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza by the United Nations and other international relief organisations after being inspected by defence ministry personnel, the Israeli military said. The military declined to comment when asked whether the shelter equipment was intended for Gaza City's population, estimated at around one million people presently. It also did not say if the relocation site in southern Gaza would be the area of Rafah, which borders Egypt. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the plans for the new offensive were still being formulated. However, Israeli forces have already increased operations on the outskirts of Gaza City over the past week. Residents in the neighbourhoods of Zeitoun and Shejaia have reported heavy Israeli aerial and tank fire which has destroyed many houses. The Israeli military said on Friday local time that it had begun a new operation in Zeitoun to locate explosives, destroy tunnels and kill militants in the area. The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities, with 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza reportedly still alive. Israel's subsequent military assault against Hamas has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry said. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced most of Gaza's population, and left much of the enclave in ruins. Protests calling for a hostage release and an end to the war were expected throughout Israel on Sunday, with many businesses and universities saying they will strike for the day. Negotiations to secure a US-backed 60-day ceasefire and hostage release ended in deadlock last month and mediators Egypt and Qatar have been trying to revive them. The US State Department said it was halting all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while it conducted "a full and thorough" review. The department said "a small number" of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued in recent days but did not provide a figure. In 2025 so far, the US has issued more than 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas, which permit foreigners to seek medical treatment in the United States, to holders of the Palestinian Authority travel documents. That figure includes 640 visas issued in May, according to an analysis of monthly figures provided on the department's website. The PA issues such travel documents to residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The State Department's move to stop visitor visas for people from Gaza comes after Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and an ally of President Donald Trump, said on social media on Friday that Palestinian "refugees" had entered the US this month. Ms Loomer's statement sparked outrage among some Republicans, with US Representative Randy Fine of Florida describing it as a "national security risk". The Palestine Children's Relief Fund said the decision to halt visas would deny access to medical care for wounded and sick children in Gaza. "This policy will have a devastating and irreversible impact on our ability to bring injured and critically ill children from Gaza to the United States for lifesaving medical treatment — a mission that has defined our work for more than 30 years," it said in a statement. The US has not indicated that it would accept Palestinians displaced by the war. However, sources told Reuters that South Sudan and Israel are discussing a plan to resettle Palestinians. Reuters
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Anti-migration co-ordinator's wealthy property family
EXCLUSIVE One of the co-ordinators of a series of anti-immigration protests planned across Australia comes from one of the nation's wealthiest property development families, it can be revealed. Hugo Lennon – who goes by the online persona 'Auspill' – is encouraging Australians to come out en masse on August 31 in protests to 'end mass immigration' – which he says is to blame for the nation's housing crisis and skills shortage. However, can reveal Mr Lennon is the grandson of Tony Lennon, the former chairman of Perth-based Peet Limited, one of Australia's largest real estate development companies, worth approximately $800 million. The development mogul's wealth is now estimated at $350m to $500m, with Tony listed in WA's 50 richest list on multiple occasions. The 82-year-old retired from Peet last year, however, retained his shareholding of the company of more than 20 per cent. Mr Lennon's father Anthony is still with the company as a non-executive director on the board. Both Tony and Anthony have been contacted for comment from In his most recent video, Auspill tells his followers to 'Save the date for August 31 to save Australia'. 'So no doubt by you've heard by now about August the 31st, and if you haven't, on that date Australians will be marching for an end to mass immigration. They will be marching for Australia,' Mr Lennon states. 'Because the majority of Australians want to see the end of mass immigration. 'The truth is, Australia have been ignored on immigration for a long time and that's gonna come to an end because on the 31st Australians will voice this majority opinion.' There is also no suggestion that Hugo Lennon's other family members share his views. In a statement to a spokesman for Peet Limited denounced Mr Lennon's opinions. 'Creating inclusive, diverse communities where everyone belongs is a core value for Peet,' the company said in a statement. 'Peet does not share the views expressed by this individual, and we do not condone his actions or commentary.' The protests are being organised by the group 'March For Australia' – whose Facebook group was being moderated and administrated by Mr Lennon's 'Auspill' account. His account name has been removed from the page since being contacted for comment by Mr Lennon told his account was removed as March for Australia did not want to be 'connected to any one name and thus any one set of politics'. He outlined that he was assisting with 'certain technical systems and back-end infrastructure' for the rallies as well as providing 'occasional logistical support in online co-ordination'. 'The reasons expressed by MFA are broad, they reflect the organisers' and supporters' diverse political backgrounds,' Mr Lennon told 'Concerns around mass immigration include housing shortages, demographic change, infrastructure strain, environmental impacts, water supply shortages and fractured social cohesion.' Flyers and videos promoting the rallies have gone viral on TikTok and X in recent days, sparking division online. Rallies are set to be held in Hobart, Darwin, Townsville, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and Adelaide from 12pm to 2pm local time. Exact locations are yet to be announced. The event is being promoted by a number of far-right and white nationalist accounts on social media, however, Mr Lennon told his followers the protest will be 'peaceful'. On Tuesday, the March for Australia page put out an 'urgent press release' clarifying they were not affiliated with 'White Australia'. 'March For Australia began as a grassroots, organic effort to unite Australians around a common cause – ending mass immigration,' the social media post from March for Australia stated. 'We respect those foundations and recognise that our cause finds support from Australians from a diverse range of political backgrounds. 'Any attempts to hijack March For Australia for other issues, or to make it about any one group, are not in the spirit of the movement that we have taken custody of. 'We will assemble peacefully, to defend our flag, our people and demand an end to mass immigration.' As of March 13, neither NSW Police nor Queensland Police had received any notice of an intention to hold a 'public assembly'. It comes after a separate event in which around 100 masked neo-Nazis marched through Melbourne's CBD in the early hours of Saturday morning, carrying a sign reading 'White Man Fight Back'. The National Socialist Network event sparked outrage from Jewish groups, as the Victorian government pledged to introduce new laws giving police powers to 'unmask cowards at protests'. The high life of the Lennons Hugo's sister Eliza, a lawyer from Melbourne, makes no secret of the Lennon family's wealth, regularly posting family snaps from luxury locations and red carpets. However, she also makes known her disapproval of her brother's views. 'My brother's opinions are not mine,' her TikTok bio states. Her brother appears rarely on her social media feeds as opposed to her parents and grandparents. In one TikTok video, Eliza, who is also a keen golfer, features her multimillion-dollar grandfather in a 'fit check' with the pair kicking their feet up to show off their outfits.
