31-07-2025
Australia news live: ‘we'll make our own decisions,' says Albanese amid pressure to recognise Palestinian state
Update:
Date: 2025-07-31T20:38:05.000Z
Title: Tania Safi
Content: The two Australians who were on board a boat intercepted by Israel while trying to transport aid to Gaza last weekend were expected to arrive back in Sydney this morning.
We'll bring you more details on that later, but you can read more about what happened to journalist and human rights activist Robert Martin here:
Update:
Date: 2025-07-31T20:37:36.000Z
Title: 'Want to make sure it's not just a gesture': PM holds firm on Palestinian recognition position
Content: The prime minister said last night that Australia will only recognise a Palestinian state once it 'can make a contribution to the creation of two states'.
Appearing on ABC's 7.30 last night, Anthony Albanese was asked what had to change in order for Australia to recognise Palestinian statehood after Canada joined the UK and France's announced they intended to do so at the UN General Assembly in September.
We will give consideration to all of the factors which are there. But I believe very strongly that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people need to be realised, but in order for that to be achieved, there needs to also be security for the state of Israel.
Asked what's stopping Australia from making a similar commitment to Canada, Albanese said: 'We want to make sure it's not just a gesture but it's a positive contribution.'
Albanese was pressed on what exactly needs to change for his stance to change. He responded:
Well, it won't be a personal decision, it will be a decision by the Australian government based upon the assessment that my fellow cabinet members will make … making that declaration will actually make a difference and be a positive step towards the realisation of the two-state goal.
Asked if Australia will recognise Palestine if the US doesn't, he said: 'We'll make our own decisions.'
Update:
Date: 2025-07-31T20:34:04.000Z
Title: Welcome
Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top stories this morning and then it'll be Nick Visser to take you through to the weekend.
The question of whether Australia should recognise should join the UK, France and Canada in recognising a Palestinian state continues to dominate the federal politics picture this week after Anthony Albanese appeared on ABC's 7.30 and defended his government's stance to remain on the fence on the issue. Full details of what the prime minister said coming up.
The independent NSW MP Alex Greenwich has come out in support of the pro-Palestine protest planned for Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, saying it 'would send a powerful global message'. His support comes as the Palestine Action Group goes to the supreme court today to challenge a decision by police chiefs that the bridge should not be shut down to allow the march to go ahead. We'll have more shortly.
