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ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Labor's freedom in numbers is a double-edged sword on Gaza and Israel
In politics, it's not always those who sit opposite that you need to worry about. It's also those who sit behind you. As the Albanese government prepares to return to Parliament next month, it will sit across from a demoralised Coalition, which has spent the past couple of weeks breaking up and making up with all the drama of a high school couple. But perhaps posing more of a problem for Labor is a politician scorned. Dumped cabinet minister Ed Husic blamed Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles for his removal from cabinet, calling him a "factional assassin". But assassins are paid to kill and Husic's still kicking. The long-serving Labor MP wasted no time in saying the way power was wielded would repel people from the party, declaring former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus — a fellow victim of factional fighting — was denied dignity in the process. In dumping Husic from the ministry, the party has also liberated him from the shackles of cabinet solidarity that have seen him tread more carefully when speaking about the war in Gaza. No longer. Husic has been highly critical of the government for not doing enough to condemn Israel for withholding aid from Gaza. He said Australia "can and should be doing more" — from calling in the Israeli ambassador, to ramping up its contribution to the international humanitarian effort and imposing sanctions on Israel, beyond what's already been imposed on settlers in the West Bank. And while he noted Australia had signed a statement alongside several countries calling for the reinstatement of aid, he questioned why the government didn't "proudly" join the UK, Canada and France, saying they would take concrete actions if Israel didn't cease its renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid. There is also pressure within Labor's grassroots membership for the government to impose sanctions on Israeli individuals and groups, while former foreign ministers Gareth Evans and Bob Carr have also endorsed sanctions. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously said Australia is not a major player in the Middle East. But the impact of the war in Gaza is being felt acutely by people in Australia. Incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia have risen, and Australians have also watched in horror as family members have been displaced or killed in the conflict. In trying to hold the middle ground on the Middle East, the government has often found itself disappointing all sides at home - those in support of Israel and those with anti-Zionist views, who feel let down by the government. And while Labor had a sweeping election victory, if you look under the hood of the results in western Sydney seats like Blaxland and Watson — where there are high concentrations of Arab-Australians — Labor's primary vote was down. Free from the constraints of an election campaign — and as images of burned, maimed and starving children, some crying and some simply too weak to — continue to be broadcast on people's screens, Albanese has toughened his rhetoric. Trying to allay the concerns of international allies, Israel has argued it would let a "basic amount of food" in for the Palestinian population. But Albanese said it was "outrageous" Israel was blocking food and supplies to people in need, while shrugging off calls for sanctions, saying the government would follow its own path. Australia will attend a United Nations-backed summit in New York this month, although at this stage it hasn't landed on who will go. The federal government's prevailing narrative is that Australia no longer sees recognition of a Palestinian state as occurring at the end of negotiations — but rather as a way of building momentum in the peace process. However, Labor has also been adamant there can be no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state. Until the party lands on its next moves, they will have people within pushing for more to be done. As the prime minister fends off criticism from those now sitting much further back on the benches, the Greens have also had a blow from within. Having lost three seats in the lower house at the last election — including that of former leader Adam Bandt — it's now also lost a Senate seat. But this time, it had nothing to do with the voting public. Greens senator Dorinda Cox has defected to sit with the Labor party, saying her values align more closely with them. It's a curious statement, given just days ago she criticised Labor's approval of Woodside's expansion of the North West Shelf gas project out to 2070. But the senator had run unsuccessfully for the Greens deputy leadership in the wake of the election, and was facing the prospect of losing the number one spot on the Greens' WA senate ticket. Like many relationship break-ups, this split comes with baggage. Labor is taking on a senator who has also been accused of bullying a number of office staff, allegations she has denied and criticised as "missing context". But in turn the party gains a senator and punishes a party which the prime minister has declared has "lost their way." The last parliament saw numerous defections: Liberals and Nationals quit to sit as independents. Lidia Thorpe quit the Greens over the Voice, and Fatima Payman resigned from the Labor party over the party's position on the Gaza conflict. When Payman quit the party to sit as an independent, the prime minister suggested she should end her six-year term — "gifted" under Labor — and recontest the next federal election as an independent. However, presented with the opportunity to gain a number rather than lose one, Anthony Albanese said Cox would serve out the remainder of her term with Labor, noting she will have to be pre-selected through ALP processes to run for the next election. Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has described the Senate as a "political merry-go-round". And especially given the election was mere weeks ago — it begs the question: is it democratic for politicians, having been elected as a member of one party, to leave for another? There's currently no federal legislation in Australia that specifically addresses defections — only deaths and resignations — and experts have suggested punishing defectors could raise constitutional issues, and reduce stability and accountability in the Parliament. So while defections frustrate the public, they're a feature of the Australian parliament that isn't likely to go away. With an additional number in their ranks, the change is undoubtedly a morale boost for Labor, but practically it doesn't change the composition of the upper house dramatically. Labor still needs the Greens or the Coalition to pass legislation there, although this shift means that if the pair want to join forces to block government legislation, they'll need another number from the crossbench. Albanese will enter the first parliamentary sitting of the new government with calls to use his increased majority in the House to tackle more ambitious agenda items. Before the election, most in Labor were willing to swallow their concerns because of fears disunity would mean political death. But in the wake of a victory few saw coming, the enormous majority also comes with a downside for the PM. It means there are now more backbenchers to get on board, and more Labor MPs who could speak out if Albanese isn't able to land on a position everyone in the backbench is satisfied with.
AU Financial Review
2 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Minimum wage to rise; ‘Fix Swiss cheese AI rules'; TACO trade danger
Want to get this in your inbox at lunchtime every weekday? Financial Review subscribers can sign up for The Brief newsletter here. Plus start your day with our Before the Bell newsletter and read a full wrap of the day's news in Market Wrap. In today's news, the minimum wage will rise 3.5 per cent, Ed Husic tells the AFR AI Summit that 'Swiss cheese' rules must be fixed, and Donald Trump could still make markets choke on TACO trades.
AU Financial Review
2 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Fix ‘Swiss cheese' AI rules to deal with its growth: Husic
Former industry minister Ed Husic says he is concerns that governments are paralysed about the growth and scale of artificial intelligence and said the country's urgently needs overarching regulation to oversee its growth. 'Governments are generally either paralysed, uncertain or can't get agreement on a global way forward,' Husic, who had been responsible for many of Labor's technology policies until the last federal election. 'What would help is to be able to provide some certainty. We should have at least our own AI Act. I don't know if that will happen in this term.'
SBS Australia
3 days ago
- Business
- SBS Australia
SBS News In Easy English 2 June 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . The Australian government is being urged to consider using targeted sanctions against Israel over its actions in blocking aid in Gaza. Labor MP Ed Husic - and former Labor foreign ministers Gareth Evans and Bob Carr - have called for Australia to join the UK, France and Canada in signalling the use of targeted sanctions, if Israel fails to stop the renewed military offensive and lift all of the restrictions on aid. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has so far rejected the calls, saying he is focused on "peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians" rather than soundbites. Mr Husic has also urged the federal government to consider backing Palestinian statehood at a UN conference on a two-state solution* to be held in New York later this month [[17-20 June]] . Activist Reem Borrows, from Palestine Australia Relief and Action, told SBS Arabic much stronger intervention is needed from the Australian government. The Business Council of Australia has called on the federal government to have a focus on supporting innovation in its strategy to regulate A-I. In a new report, the group warns against over-regulation, saying the country has vast land resources that could be used for data centres for AI. The report says that Australians, more than people in many other countries, express nervousness about AI, and that could lead to over-regulation. There are no specific laws or regulations that directly regulate AI in Australia. The federal government is considering different reform options to mandate guardrails for AI systems deemed to be high risk, including introducing a new AI Act. In the United States, multiple people have been injured in an attack in the city of Boulder in northern Colorado. Witnesses say a man threw bottles that apparently contained flammable liquid, which hit the ground and exploded in flames. A suspect is in custody and police are investigating what FBI officials immediately called a targeted terror attack. However, local authorities say it is too early to know the motive of the attack. The Queensland government has launched a new tourism campaign ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A key focus of the plan achieving the goal to deliver 45 new ecotourism experiences by 2045, including new dark sky tourism experiences, light footprint accommodation and agritourism. Premier David Crisafulli says the plan would launch Queensland as a truly global tourist destination over the next 20 years, maximising the opportunity of the 2032 Games. Exit polls released on the second round of Poland's presidential election shows the contest is too close to call. Official results are due later today. Two exit polls shows the pro-European Warsaw mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski very marginally ahead of the historian and former amateur boxer Karol Nawrocki. Mr Trzaskowski has claimed victory in front of cheering supporters in Warsaw. Mr Nawrocki says it is too early to call the election result, but he believes he will win. In football, Joe Montemurro will be the new coach of the Matildas. He's signed a three year deal to be coach of the national side through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a period which will also inlcude the 2026 Asian Cup on home soil, and the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. The 55-year-old Aussie was most recently coach of French side Lyon. He's previously coached English side Arsenal, Italian side Juventus, and A-League side Melbourne City to women's league titles. Montemurro's hiring ends the long search for a successor to Tony Gustavsson, who left after the Olympics last year. Interim coach Tom Sermanni will coach tonight's [[Mon 2 June]] game against Argentina in Canberra. Montemurro will take over after that, with his first game in charge being against Slovenia in Perth later this month.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Albanese says ‘we follow our own path' after UK, France and Canada threaten Israel with sanctions over Gaza
Anthony Albanese has appeared to downplay the prospect of Australia imposing sanctions on Israel over its actions in blockading aid into Gaza, saying his government would 'follow our own path' despite allies like the United Kingdom threatening further actions against Benjamin Netanyahu's administration. The prime minister shrugged off calls by a pro-Palestine group within Labor for targeted sanctions on Israel, saying he was focusing on 'peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians' rather than 'soundbites'. But Labor MP and former cabinet minister Ed Husic again said his government should consider sanctions against those directing operations against Gaza, while former Labor foreign ministers Gareth Evans and Bob Carr also endorsed sanctions. 'If we do have our friends move, we should be ready to work with them,' Husic told ABC TV on Wednesday. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The UK, France and Canada threatened to step up 'concrete actions' against Israel in a joint statement last Monday – including 'targeted sanctions' – after the country's military intensified military strikes on besieged Gaza despite aid agencies warning the Palestinian population is being plunged further into malnutrition and closer to famine. For nearly three months, Israel has blocked food, fuel, medicine and all other supplies from entering Gaza, worsening a humanitarian crisis for 2.3 million Palestinians. Israeli troops on Tuesday opened fire near thousands of hungry Palestinians as a logistics group chosen by Israel to ship food into Gaza lost control of its distribution centre. Albanese on Monday levelled his strongest criticism yet at Israel over its actions in Gaza, branding the weeks-long blockade 'an outrage' and Israel's explanations 'untenable'. But when asked on Wednesday whether Australia would join the joint position moving toward sanctions, as called for by the Labor Friends of Palestine group, he questioned what that would mean. 'We follow our own path, and Australia determines our own foreign policy, and we have been very consistent the whole way through. What people don't say when they put forward ideas like this, is what that means,' he told a press conference in Brisbane. 'Unlike some of those countries, we don't provide military assets to Israel or to that region. So we are in different circumstances. But we make it clear, as we have consistently: we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see hostages released, we say Hamas has no role in the future, but we want to see humanitarian aid delivered to people in Gaza.' Asked whether Israel would agree to those actions without facing sanctions, Albanese responded: 'What are the sanctions you are suggesting?' 'That's the point. You are not sure. And that's not a criticism of you [the reporter], it's just a reflection of the reality. Soundbites can make a difference. What really makes a difference though … What we are interested in is substance,' he said. 'What we want is peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. We have made it clear that we support a two-state solution.' Labor Friends of Palestine told Guardian Australia there was a 'surge in anger and frustration among Labor members' that the government hadn't done more. The group was contacted for a response to Albanese's Wednesday statement. Australia last week joined 22 other nations in condemning Israel over its decision to allow only limited aid into Gaza, adding voice to a joint statement also signed by the UK, Canada and New Zealand. Donald Rothwell, professor of international law at the Australian National University, said in general Australia had capacity to level 'a range' of sanctions, either autonomously or in concert with other nations. But he added that a consideration of any measures was whether they would be 'meaningful'. 'Our economic and trade relationship with Israel isn't as extensive as with other countries, so it's unlikely any trade or economic sanction would have harmful impacts on the target state – but they could possibly be seen as symbolic,' he said. Rothwell suggested that, in general terms, targeted sanctions could include placing restrictions on military-to-military cooperation or relationships. He said any form of sanctions would likely be more effective in conjunction with allies. 'There's increasing evidence there's a movement toward that,' Rothwell said. Evans, speaking to the Nine newspapers, said Australia should immediately recognise Palestinian statehood and said enacting sanctions on Israel would 'send a powerful message'. Carr urged the government to put more pressure on Israel, including by recognising Palestine. In an interview on the ABC on Wednesday afternoon, he also backed sanctions against Netanyahu and other Israeli ministers. Husic said there would be options for Australia to join the governments of the UK, France and Canada in any future sanctions regime. 'I think it would be wise to have targeted sanctions, looking at individuals who have been directing the operations in Gaza and clearly ignoring, violating international humanitarian law,' Husic told the ABC. 'They can be members of the Netanyahu government, members of the Israeli Defence Force. That is one option that able to be pressure on the Israeli government, working in concert with other countries, to free up humanitarian aid and particularly target assistance medical supplies in particular to help especially infants and children.'
