Turnbull tells Taylor to stand up and make his intentions known
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was ousted in a leadership spill initiated by Peter Dutton and won by Scott Morrison, told RN Breakfast that he will not endorse any candidate for the Liberal party leadership. However, he emphasized that if Angus Taylor intends to run, he must "stand up and say" so.
Turnbull had previously urged Dutton to provide a list of names on a petition to call a spill, which initially delayed the leadership challenge.
I think it is fair if people want to remove the leader, then they should be prepared to put their hands up. You know, so as I said, I think this is true with Taylor. I mean, if Taylor wants to be leader, [he] should stand up and say he wants to be leader, say why, and those people who support him should stand up and take responsibility for it.
He further noted that even Sussan Ley, considered more moderate compared to Taylor or Andrew Hastie, is not truly a moderate, having supported Dutton in the 2018 leadership coup.
Protests against Herzog visit ‘really difficult’ to watch: Israeli minister
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel described Isaac Herzog’s visit as crucial for the Australian Jewish community, which she said is "completely broken and shattered." Haskel, who lived in Australia for eight years and has been a vocal critic of the Albanese government, spoke to RN Breakfast about the protests against Herzog’s visit.
She expressed that it was "really difficult" to witness the protests, which were intended to show solidarity with the community.
It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see that during these times, to hear and to see on live television those chants in Sydney, it’s quite difficult.
Host Sally Sara asked about the impact of Herzog’s visit on the Palestinian community in Australia, particularly those who have lost loved ones in Gaza due to Israeli military actions. Haskel responded:
Look, a war is a war. It’s a terrible thing. There’s casualties and there’s death and destruction. We know that. A war is not a pretty thing. You cannot give me one example of a war worldwide when you can picture it in a romantic way with no casualties.
Haskel acknowledged the right to protest but warned of a "red line" regarding chants such as "globalise the intifada."
There’s a red line that needs to be drawn with calls for violence.
Record quarter jump in bulk billing rates, government says
Health Minister Mark Butler announced a record increase in GP bulk billing rates in the three months following the introduction of government bulk billing incentives. Since November, the nationwide bulk billing rate has risen to 81.4%, marking the largest quarterly increase in 20 years outside the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Before the reforms in October 2023, the rate was 75.6%. The data shows over 3,400 bulk billing practices across Australia, with nearly 1,300 previously mixed billing practices converting to bulk billing. The number continues to grow weekly, according to the minister’s statement.
For the 16-64 age group, previously not covered by the October 2023 reforms which tripled incentives for children under 16 and concession card holders, the 6.9% increase is the largest quarterly rise on record.
Bulk billing rates have increased in every state and territory, with approximately 96% of Australians now within a 20-minute drive of a registered bulk billing practice.
‘If people want to do something, they should put their name to it’: Bragg
Angus Taylor and his supporters face mounting pressure to publicly oppose Sussan Ley. Taylor is expected to resign from the frontbench today, a necessary step to contest the leadership.
Liberal moderate Andrew Bragg expressed frustration with the ongoing leadership drama during ABC News Breakfast, urging those seeking a spill to publicly declare their intentions.
We’re not paid to play games, tiddly-winks. We’re paid to hard for the Australian people. If people want to do something, they should put their name to it.
Bragg said no substantive leadership issues were raised at the recent party room meeting and believes Ley retains majority support. Ley won the leadership narrowly with 29 votes to 25, including votes from now-retired senators Hollie Hughes and Linda Reynolds, and Gisele Kapterian who lost her seat in a recount.
I would say over the last eight months or so, Sussan has been dealt a bad hand. We had the cataclysmic election loss and two bust-ups with the Nats, and haven’t had a chance to put out many policies.
Commonwealth Bank posts record profit but warns of ‘upward pressure’ on interest rates
The Commonwealth Bank reported a record half-year cash profit of $5.45 billion, driven by increased home loan volumes and business lending. The bank cautioned that inflationary pressures are likely to keep interest rates elevated.
In its earnings release, Australia’s largest lender noted the economy is struggling to meet rising consumer demand, leading to inflation expected to remain above the Reserve Bank’s target range for some time, thus exerting upward pressure on interest rates.
The bank’s cash profit rose 6% year-on-year, surpassing expectations. It declared an interim dividend of $2.35 per share, up 10 cents from the previous year.
Mortgage arrears declined as a percentage of the total mortgage book following last year’s interest rate reductions and tax cuts, although arrears remain elevated and the full impact of recent rate rises has yet to be felt.
The strong profit drew criticism from the Finance Sector Union, which highlighted increasing workloads and concerns over automation among bank employees.
Butler avoids making judgement on Tame’s use of ‘globalise the intifada’ phrase
Health Minister Mark Butler defended Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia, emphasizing its role in providing comfort to the Jewish community. He addressed the controversy surrounding former Australian of the Year Grace Tame’s use of the phrase "globalise the intifada" during a Sydney march.
Butler described the phrase as "not useful" and urged people to reduce tensions.
To the extent that globalised the intifada means bring the conflict to the streets of Australia, it is not a proper phrase to be using.
He highlighted Australia’s tradition of freedom of speech and peaceful protest, referencing past demonstrations against conflicts such as the Vietnam and Iraq wars.
That’s a matter for every individual who uses the phrase to answer to.
Turnbull says Liberals should stop ‘chasing Pauline Hanson down a rightwing populist burrow’
Malcolm Turnbull criticized the Liberal party’s shift towards the right, attributing it to excessive consumption of right-wing media such as after hours. He urged the party to abandon culture wars and stop following Pauline Hanson’s populist agenda.
The problem the party has got is that it has drifted away from the centre of Australian politics. It’s become lost in this sort of world, this bubble of populist right-wing media … They’re fighting culture wars and, you know, basically chasing Pauline Hanson down a rightwing populist burrow, and no wonder her vote is ahead of theirs. They’ve got to get back to the centre.
Turnbull says Herzog should be 'respected as a guest' while in Australia
Turnbull defended the government’s invitation to Isaac Herzog and stated that Herzog should be "respected as a guest" during his visit. Speaking to ABC RN Breakfast, he said protesters should have demonstrated peacefully and followed police instructions, although he acknowledged that police should have allowed men praying on the street to finish before intervening. The men were filmed being dragged by officers.
Nobody is justified in assaulting police and they should have complied with the lawful directions from the police.
I don’t know the whole context, but one would have hoped that the police would have waited for the prayers to be concluded, frankly … I think in retrospect, I’m sure they feel they would have been better off letting them conclude their prayers.
Turnbull, echoing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, urged the public to reduce tensions rather than allowing the visit to deepen divisions.
I think the question people will ask after this visit is whether the visit from President Herzog has assisted in making it very clear that the Jewish community in Australia should not be targets of or the objects of protests against the state of Israel. I mean, the one thing we have to be clear about in this multicultural society of ours is that we cannot allow foreign wars to be fought out here.
Islamophobia envoy calls for NSW police to apologise
Australia’s Islamophobia envoy, Aftab Malik, demanded a public apology and investigation into New South Wales police actions during a Sydney protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit. Video footage showed about a dozen men, led by Sheikh Wesam Charkawi, being confronted by police at Sydney Town Hall.
Malik appeared at a Senate estimates hearing, stating that police crossed "red lines" and that the force should know better.
The police need to come out with a public apology. There needs to be an investigation.
There are some red lines and that was crossed last night. That is simply unacceptable, and the police force should know better …. there is no excuse.
He reported speaking to several men who were grabbed by police, describing them as "scared" and in a "vulnerable state" while praying.
McKenzie criticises Grace Tame over chant
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie joined former colleague Barnaby Joyce in criticizing Grace Tame after she used the phrase "globalise the intifada" at a Sydney march on Monday. Joyce suggested Tame’s Australian of the Year award should be revoked.
McKenzie told Sunrise that Tame should face consequences, emphasizing that President Herzog’s visit should be a time of healing following the Bondi attack.
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil offered a contrasting view on the Sunrise panel, stating that while the chant was inappropriate, a "pile-on" against Tame was unwarranted and called for lowering tensions.
Before we start a national pile-on on to Grace Tame, can we just remember that every single child in our country is safer today because of her willingness to talk about traumatic incidents of sexual abuse.
Greens leader Larissa Waters criticized Barnaby Joyce’s remarks, stating they reflect more on Joyce than on Tame.
Speculation mounts over Taylor and Liberal leadership challenge
Speculation is increasing that Angus Taylor may resign from the shadow cabinet today as he prepares to challenge Sussan Ley for the Liberal leadership. Shadow cabinet rules require Taylor to resign before publicly campaigning, which would also force his close allies to step down from frontbench roles.
Yesterday, Jonathon Duniam, a senior member of the Liberal right faction, urged Taylor to make his intentions clear. Ley’s supporters reportedly want her to demand that Taylor and his allies sign a petition calling for a spill, a topic discussed in private talks on Tuesday.
‘Assertions, hypotheticals and opinions quickly became accepted as facts by some’
In his opening statement, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess cautioned against judging the agency’s actions with hindsight. He explained that Naveed Akram first came to ASIO’s attention as a teenager due to suspected links to Islamic extremism. Prior to the Bondi attack, Naveed and his father Sajid traveled to Davao City in the Philippines, a region previously associated with Islamist militant groups.
Critics questioned the agency’s response to this trip. Burgess noted that in the aftermath of the Bondi attack, many assumptions and opinions were treated as facts, leading to calls for action unsupported by evidence.
ASIO issued a rare public statement ahead of an ABC Four Corners program that aired claims by a former undercover agent, "Marcus," alleging the Akrams showed signs of radicalization years before the attack. ASIO described the episode as containing "significant errors of fact" and reserved the right to take further action.
Burgess said he was considering legal responses or public statements but preferred the royal commission, due by December 2026, as the appropriate forum.
Is there either a legal response or additional statements from me publicly to demonstrate the false claims? Of course, I’m minded and aware of there’s a royal commission, and I think that’s the best place through which I will do that.
He reiterated that the former agent’s claims were untrue but welcomed the opportunity to address them at the royal commission.
Asio boss dismisses criticisms over Bondi terror attack
Mike Burgess, head of Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, rejected claims that ASIO failed to prevent the Bondi shooting as "baseless." He told a Senate estimates hearing that an independent review conducted after the attack cleared ASIO of wrongdoing.
Burgess stated that the Akrams were not engaged in violent extremism at the time they first came under surveillance in 2019, countering criticisms of ASIO’s handling of the case.
He expressed support for the royal commission, emphasizing that ASIO will acknowledge any mistakes and learn from them if identified.
Man charged after allegedly shining torch at police at Sydney protest
A protest against New South Wales police’s response to Monday’s demonstration in Sydney over Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit concluded mostly peacefully on Tuesday night despite a tense hour-long standoff.
NSW police reported that an 18-year-old man was arrested for repeatedly shining a torch in officers’ faces. He was taken to Surry Hills police station and charged with three counts of assaulting a police officer without actual bodily harm and possession of a knife in a public place.
The protest, organized by the Palestine Action Group outside Surry Hills police station, aimed to rally against police brutality following violent clashes on Monday and called for all charges against protesters to be dropped. The event was largely static and peaceful, with organizer Josh Lees urging attendees not to linger after speakers concluded around 7 pm.
While most of the crowd of at least 1,000 dispersed, a smaller group of several hundred approached a police line separating protesters in Harmony Park from the station. Australia observed police restraining one protester behind the line.
The standoff lasted over an hour, with verbal confrontations and chants such as "quit your job" and "too many coppers, not enough justice." Police deployed pepper spray canisters, and some protesters wore protective masks and goggles, but no violent incidents like those on Monday occurred.
Organizers, including Lees, positioned themselves between police and protesters to prevent escalation and eventually persuaded the crowd to move on.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna commended officers for showing "enormous restraint in a high-pressured situation."
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you for what promises to be another busy sitting day.
There continues to be reaction to Monday night’s protests, including calls from Australia’s Islamophobia envoy for a public apology from NSW police after men praying on the street were grabbed.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog will continue his Australian visit with a trip to Canberra today.
ASIO has defended itself against criticism over the Bondi terror attack during a Senate estimates hearing.
The government has reported an increase in bulk billing rates, with Health Minister Mark Butler promoting the trend in media appearances.
Angus Taylor is moving closer to challenging Sussan Ley for Liberal leadership, with all eyes on the party for potential developments today.
I’ve got a coffee, I hope you do too. Let’s get started!
