Pro-Palestine group threatens legal action over planned Story Bridge protest as Labor criticised over recognition of Palestinian state
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Sky News AU
29 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Labor's handling of algal bloom disaster ‘woefully inadequate', Ley says
Labor's response to South Australia's algal bloom disaster is 'woefully inadequate', Sussan Ley says. The Albanese government has been accused of dragging its heels on a federal response to the bloom, with Environment Minister Murray Watt hesitant to call it a natural disaster, even as thousands of marine animals wash up on South Australian beaches. Senator Watt announced on Thursday that he had asked for a review into disaster classifications, similar to one that took place after the Black Saturday bushfires. But the Opposition Leader said it 'sounds like the sort of bureaucratic explanation the Labor Party would use'. Speaking to the ABC from Adelaide, Ms Ley said the Albanese government had 'a long list of excuses they've been making for not acting on something that has captured every single South Australian'. 'I'm looking forward to meeting the people who are hurting so badly in these regional communities today,' she told the national broadcaster. 'The response so far from the government has been woefully inadequate. 'This is a natural disaster and it is a national disaster.' She also called out Senator Watt directly, accusing him of dodging whether Anthony Albanese would bring extra federal funding when he visits South Australia next week. 'Don't wait for the Prime Minister to come for a pic-op,' Ms Ley said. 'Actually deliver the support now if you know it's coming and help ease the pressure, including the real financial pressure, that these communities are facing. 'This is just not good enough.' Appearing on the ABC shortly before her, Senator Watt said there was 'no doubting whatsoever that this is a very severe environmental event'. 'On the natural disaster declaration, and I realise there's been many calls for that to occur,' he said. 'This is much more like a drought, in the sense that it is a long-running event and builds up over time. 'We're waiting for weather conditions to intervene before it ends and that's quite different to what we think of as a natural disaster and the rapid onset like floods and cyclones and bushfires that come through an area, leave a trail of destruction and move on. 'That's not the kind of situation we're dealing with here and that's why we've come up with a support package which is probably a bit more like how we respond to droughts with state and federal governments responding to thinking about the short-term needs and long-term needs.' Senator Watt added that he had not 'spent too much time into how to jam this event into particular definitions'. 'What I've been trying to do is come up with the money to support South Australians and get expert advice on what the impact will be,' he said. Originally published as Labor's handling of algal bloom disaster 'woefully inadequate', Ley says
Perth Now
29 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Albo's ‘woeful' algal bloom response
Labor's response to South Australia's algal bloom disaster is 'woefully inadequate', Sussan Ley says. The Albanese government has been accused of dragging its heels on a federal response to the bloom, with Environment Minister Murray Watt hesitant to call it a natural disaster, even as thousands of marine animals wash up on South Australian beaches. Senator Watt announced on Thursday that he had asked for a review into disaster classifications, similar to one that took place after the Black Saturday bushfires. But the Opposition Leader said it 'sounds like the sort of bureaucratic explanation the Labor Party would use'. Up to 14,000 marine animals have washed up on South Australia's beaches due to the algal bloom. Supplied Credit: Supplied Speaking to the ABC from Adelaide, Ms Ley said the Albanese government had 'a long list of excuses they've been making for not acting on something that has captured every single South Australian'. 'I'm looking forward to meeting the people who are hurting so badly in these regional communities today,' she told the national broadcaster. 'The response so far from the government has been woefully inadequate. 'This is a natural disaster and it is a national disaster.' She also called out Senator Watt directly, accusing him of dodging whether Anthony Albanese would bring extra federal funding when he visits South Australia next week. 'Don't wait for the Prime Minister to come for a pic-op,' Ms Ley said. 'Actually deliver the support now if you know it's coming and help ease the pressure, including the real financial pressure, that these communities are facing. 'This is just not good enough.' Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says Labor's response to South Australia's algal bloom disaster is 'woefully inadequate'. Martin Ollman / NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Appearing on the ABC shortly before her, Senator Watt said there was 'no doubting whatsoever that this is a very severe environmental event'. 'On the natural disaster declaration, and I realise there's been many calls for that to occur,' he said. 'This is much more like a drought, in the sense that it is a long-running event and builds up over time. 'We're waiting for weather conditions to intervene before it ends and that's quite different to what we think of as a natural disaster and the rapid onset like floods and cyclones and bushfires that come through an area, leave a trail of destruction and move on. 'That's not the kind of situation we're dealing with here and that's why we've come up with a support package which is probably a bit more like how we respond to droughts with state and federal governments responding to thinking about the short-term needs and long-term needs.' Senator Watt added that he had not 'spent too much time into how to jam this event into particular definitions'. 'What I've been trying to do is come up with the money to support South Australians and get expert advice on what the impact will be,' he said.
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley doubles down on calls to revoke Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has doubled down on her calls to revoke Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state, after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the foreign policy shift. On Monday, Albanese revealed the government will join France, the UK, and Canada in recognising Palestine at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. More than 140 of 193 UN member states already recognise Palestine, including European Union member states Spain and Ireland. On Wednesday, Ley took aim at Albanese's plan, calling out widespread Palestinian support for Hamas. 'It's clear from the reports that are now emerging that this recognition from the prime minister is unconditional,' Ley said. 'There were several conditions placed on it notionally, but they can't reasonably be met. 'One of them is Hamas will be dismantled and taken out of any general election. Clearly, that is not possible, which is why the Coalition has made it very clear we oppose this. 'There can be no recognition without peace. They can be no reward for terror. We will reverse this decision because, ultimately, this is not in the interests of the Palestinian people. It is not in the interests of peace in the region, which we all want. 'We all want the war to end. The suffering to end. Gazans to be fed and the hostages to be released.' Barr raised statistics of Palestinian support for Hamas, recently published by The Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research, an independent think tank in the West Bank. An overwhelming 77 per cent of respondents opposed the disarmament of Hamas and about two-thirds opposed the expulsion of Hamas military leaders from the Gaza Strip if this was made a condition for stopping the war. But Barr pressed Ley on the 'credence' of the polling, given the conditions Gazans are currently living in. Ley replied: 'What does the Prime Minister mean when he says recognise Palestine? Is it the Gaza strip, where, as you say, the terrorists are in control and the war is raging and the hostages are still trapped in tunnels? 'Is it the West Bank? Where some of these figures show strong support for Hamas? What does it mean? What we know is, it will not bring peace. 'It will not make the world a safer place. It will not help deliver aid to those who desperately need it.' Ley argued Albanese needed to stay focused at home. She said while Australians care deeply about what is happening overseas, domestic problems are still weighing heavily on ordinary Aussies. '(Australians) are struggling right now with the basics. His first duty should be to them,' Ley said. Barr then referred to Ley's calls, just a few weeks ago, for Albanese to meet Trump, saying it could be considered a 'confusing message' given Ley is now pivoting to a domestic agenda. Ley replied: 'He has clearly been distracted for weeks, with respect to Palestinian recognition. That is not going to make the world a safer place or free the hostages. It is not going to deliver aid and not going to deliver the two-state solution. 'Meanwhile, Australians are struggling ... He is focusing on overseas matters, which aren't even in Australia's interests.' Barr argued domestic cost-of-living pressures are coming under control, with a third rate cut this year. Ley disagreed, saying: 'Australian families are still paying $1800 more for their mortgage. The RBA, while delivering welcome relief to mortgage holders, has said productivity and growth are weak. 'That means, living standards in Australia are going to decline further. 'We've already had the biggest drop in the developed world. These forecasts indicate that it is going to drop further. 'Now, I know people see this as a macro-economic discussion. But there are children sleeping in cars, getting out of those cars fully-dressed in their school uniforms. Parents who can't afford to put a roof over their heads. 'When you read the latest Anglicare report that said there's $33 left over for someone who is on the minimum wage after they pay rent, their groceries, and their transport costs — that isn't a cost of living crisis, that's a cost of survival crisis.'
