Burke Emphasizes Diversity Among Women Linked to Security Concerns
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke highlighted that the women involved are "not a coherent cohort," stressing the distinct nature of individuals within the group.
"I can give the complete confidence to community we know the different individuals, we know the state of mind and the effective ideology of different individuals, they are not a coherent cohort. That is why the person where a temporary exclusion order has been issued is in a different category to other members of that group."
"… our information is very strong. That’s how you can single one person from the others."
Burke also addressed the coalition's stance on passport rights, calling it "just plain wrong." He referred to the recent repatriation of 34 Australian women and children, including wives, widows, and children of individuals from al-Roj camp in north-eastern Syria, who were released by Kurdish authorities and expected to return to Australia.
"Under Australian law, if you’re a citizen and you apply for a passport, you get a passport. I heard the opposition claim - this clause or that clause. Anything would have to be under ASIO advice. Of course, of course, intelligence agencies said the different part of the Passports Act had been act we would respond to that, if they had intelligence to that effect. But the claims from the opposition that somehow the standard right for any citizen to have a passport has been suspended here just plain wrong and they know that."
"…There’s been no advice from ASIO that the Passports Act provisions have been activated. There has been advice for one of the people that has come to me that the threshold for a temporary exclusion order has been activated and I have acted on that and issued the temporary exclusion order. One of my concerns with how the opposition have handled this is they have effectively said the Minister be able to make it up. Michaelia Cash did a long media release saying, ‘This is all the minister needs to do,’ as though somehow in national security portfolio you should ignore your national security intelligence and law enforcement agencies."
Federal Police Seize 28kg of Cocaine Hidden in Luxury Bus
Authorities discovered over 28 kilograms of cocaine concealed behind a television inside a luxury bus in South Australia. The Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted a roll-on/roll-off vessel berthed at Outer Harbor on Monday, 16 February, leading to the discovery.
A forensic search employing videoscopes and detector dogs identified several one-kilogram packages of a white powdered substance hidden behind the television. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed the seizure and initiated investigations.
The seized cocaine has an estimated street value of approximately $9 million and could have resulted in around 140,000 street-level deals if it had entered the community.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Simon Lalic stated:
"Criminals are driven by their own greed and profit and will attempt any method to import harmful illicit substance into our country. No matter how creative these criminals attempt to be, our message is clear – we are on to you."
Lalic also emphasized the AFP's commitment, alongside state, commonwealth, and international law enforcement partners, to disrupting and dismantling organised criminal syndicates threatening Australia.
Roundtable Guests Urge Treasurer Chalmers to Be Bold in May Budget
Six months after Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ productivity roundtable, economists, business leaders, and union representatives who participated are cautiously optimistic about the potential for reform, according to AAP.
Danielle Wood, chair of the Productivity Commission, expressed hope that the roundtable laid the groundwork for broader changes in the upcoming budget and beyond.
Shiro Armstrong, research fellow at the ANU Crawford School of Economics and Government, praised Dr. Chalmers for effectively managing diverse views, achieving consensus, and communicating outcomes to the public.
Aruna Sathanapally, chief executive of the Grattan Institute, stressed that the budget must capitalize on the roundtable's momentum and produce proposals suitable for the next election.
While Dr. Chalmers declined an interview, he issued a statement emphasizing that the budget will be the "main game" for economic reform.
Independent MP Allegra Spender highlighted the timing of the budget as an opportunity for meaningful reform following Labor’s decisive election victory, stating:
"If you’re ever going to do something meaningful, this is the budget to do it, because it’s the budget where you can take the greatest risk."
Additional News and Updates
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog this Sunday.
The Australian Federal Police have seized more than 28 kilograms of cocaine hidden behind a television on a luxury bus in South Australia.
Meanwhile, participants of Jim Chalmers’ productivity roundtable are urging the treasurer to be bold in the May budget, recognizing that the government has already taken important steps.
The Winter Olympics are concluding, marking Australia's most successful campaign to date with six medallists. Moguls champion Cooper Woods and aerial skiing silver medallist Danielle Scott were selected as flag bearers for the closing ceremony, scheduled to take place in Verona early tomorrow morning.
Parents in New South Wales will have access to a new tool launched today by the state government amid rising measles cases circulating in the community.
Amid heightened immigration tensions in Canberra, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is scheduled to appear on ABC’s Insiders program.
