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Pro-Palestine rally organiser says Sunday protest will go ahead regardless of court outcome
Josh Lees, a member of the Palestine Action Group Sydney, also spoke with ABC RN about the planned pro-Palestine rally in Sydney, scheduled for Sunday.
He said the group would be going ahead with the protest “regardless of what happens in the court”.
He also said the event planned on Monday 7 October would be “a small candlelight vigil to commemorate those that have been killed over the past year”.
It’s mainly about the chance for Palestinian and Lebanese people to come and grieve for the thousands of people who have died, and for their loved ones …
Host Patricia Karvelas asked whether victims of the 7 October Hamas attack would also be recognised at the vigil. Lees said people were welcome to mourn whoever they want:
October 7 is also when the genocide in Gaza began. That’s when Israeli leaders proclaimed their intention to go in and level Gaza, to starve it, to bomb it to hell. So this is also the date that marks the beginning of the genocide in Gaza. And you know, I wonder if you are putting the same question to those organising memorials for the Israeli victims of October 7, are you demanding that they mourn the 42,000 dead Palestinians?
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IMF says RBA’s ‘restrictive’ stance is appropriate
Peter Hannam
The Monetary Fund has just concluded its annual “mission” to examine the state of the Australian economy, and it’s delivered comments that the Albanese government probably won’t be too happy about.
Yes, the economy remains “resilient” and GDP growth should start to accelerate. However, the time for cutting official interest rates hasn’t yet arrived:
[T]he RBA’s decision to maintain its restrictive policy stance in the near-term is appropriate.
A key reason is that underlying inflation is not on a certain path to drop back to within the 2%-3% target range, and governments at all levels aren’t doing as much as they might to help. In doing so, early interest rate cuts are less likely.
“The FY2024/25 Commonwealth budget is projected to deliver a positive fiscal impulse based on the mission’s estimates,” it said, adding that “state and territory budgets have proven more expansionary than expected in the near-term, incorporating further cost-of-living support and infrastructure spending”.
We’ll shortly get a briefing from Lamin Leigh, IMF’s Australia mission chief, who will be asked about these and other conclusions.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, though, said the fund had “endorsed the Albanese Government’s responsible economic management”. He said:
The government’s primary focus is to get on top of our inflation challenge without ignoring the risks to growth and the IMF has backed this strategy.
Man dies in machinery incident at Queensland coalmine
A worker is dead and another is seriously injured after a machinery incident at a central Queensland mine, AAP reports.
Paramedics were called to the Oaky Creek coalmine at Tieri, west of Rockhampton, following reports of injuries after a machinery incident about 4.30pm yesterday.
A man in his 30s suffered significant head injuries and died at the scene, Resources Health and Safety Queensland said. A second man in his 20s suffered life-threatening head, arm and leg injuries and was airlifted to Rockhampton Hospital.
Resources Health and Safety Queensland is investigating, with chief executive Rob Djukic stating “our thoughts are with the colleagues, friends and families of both workers.”
An RSHQ coal inspector has issued a directive to isolate the incident scene while we investigate.
Glencore, the operator of the mine, said the incident occurred when the two employees were carrying out maintenance works. Glencore’s Australian coal arm CEO Ian Cribb said:
Our deepest sympathies go out to both workers’ families, friends and colleagues. This is devastating for our entire Oaky Creek workforce, and we are providing support services and counselling.
Operations at the mine have been suspended while authorities investigate.
Wong questioned on whether changes needed to Australia’s protest laws
Penny Wong was questioned on Australia’s laws relating to protest, with a reporter noting that Victoria police said they can’t move people on from protesting as they would not be breaking the law. (See more in yesterday’s blog here).
Asked if all states and territories should have uniform laws in place for protests, Wong said:
Well, I would hope we wouldn’t need them. I would hope that, you know, we would exercise our rights in this democracy for peaceful protests respectfully and peacefully.
I would hope we wouldn’t need to change the law and that’s what I would urge for all Australians.
Wong condemns alleged flying of Hezbollah flags at protest
The foreign affairs minister said she condemned the alleged flying of Hezbollah flags at a rally last weekend. Wong said:
People need to understand what they are saying when they do that – they are promoting an organisation that is a terrorist organisation. That is not conducive to harmony in Australia, to social inclusion and social cohesion.
Wong says 7 October ‘not an occasion for protest’
Penny Wong was also asked how concerned she is about protests planned for 6 and 7 October. She echoed comments from the PM yesterday, and said it is “not an occasion for protest”.
October 7 was the greatest loss of Jewish lives in a single day since the Holocaust. It’s a day of grieving and a day of remembrance and should be honoured as such, and I would hope that Australians would ensure that it can be honoured with respect and solemnity.
It is a solemn occasion. It’s not an occasion for protest.
The Palestine Action Group says it has planned a candlelight vigil for 7 October in Sydney. A rally is scheduled for Sunday 6 October.
Wong says Israel has ‘right to defend itself’ but urges adherence to international law
Taking questions from reporters, Penny Wong was asked how Israel should respond to the missile attack from Iran.
She said that “Israel has a right to defend itself against Iran’s attack” and continued:
We continue to condemn Iran’s behaviour in region, its destablisation of the region, its support for many of the actors in the region including Hezbollah.
I again make the point that all – we always urge adherence to international law in all of our statements in relation to the Middle East.
Additional seats secured for Australians to return from Lebanon
Penny Wong also reiterated calls for Australians in Lebanon to leave, and take “whatever option is available to you”.
She said 1,700 Australians and their immediate family are registered with Dfat and have indicated they wish to leave Lebanon.
Wong confirmed that 80 seats have been secured on flights that are leaving today, and only 35 of those seats have been taken up.
She also said an additional 500 seats have been secured for Australians and their immediate family on two flights to Cyprus, which will be leaving on Saturday.
What I would say to Australians who wish to leave – please take whatever option is available to you. Please do not wait for your preferred route …
If you are able to secure a seat on a flight, please take that seat. If you have a seat on today’s flight, don’t delay. Now is not the time for you to wait and see, now is the time to leave.
Penny Wong addressing the media in Geelong
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, is speaking to the media in Geelong in Victoria.
Commenting on the escalation of violence in the Middle East, Wong said the strikes by Iran are “a dangerous escalation and we condemn them fully”.
It is rightly condemned by all who seek de-escalation and a ceasefire.
Under international law, Israel has a right to defend itself against these attacks and as you know Australia always urges adherence to international law …
We have been clear that the cycle of violence cannot continue and we have urged all parties to show restraint and de-escalate.
Man shot four times in Sydney’s west as police probe possibility of gang links
A man has been shot four times in various parts of his body overnight amid questions about whether there are links to Sydney’s underworld.
As AAP reports, the 28-year-old was found with gunshot wounds about 10.50pm last night in Winston Hills, near Parramatta, according to police.
He was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition where he remains under police guard. Specialist forensic police are expected to examine the scene this morning.
The circumstances pointed to a targeted shooting but it was too early to tell if it was gang-related, police told AAP. The link to a car fire in nearby Northmead is also being investigated.
An SUV was found alight about 11pm and could not be salvaged, despite firefighters’ best efforts.
Search for sailor continues after boat washed ashore near Hobart
Tasmanian police are continuing their search for a 70-year-old man after an unoccupied boat washed ashore Kingston Beach yesterday.
The man has been reported as missing by his family, with indications he boarded the vessel alone in the morning.
Acting inspector Peter Borish said a white flybridge cruiser with a small inflatable dingy attached washed onto the beach around 2pm yesterday.
Police conducted a “significant search of the area” yesterday, he said, “and these search efforts will continue today”. Marine resources and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were used.
Information to date indicates the man boarded the vessel alone at the Derwent Park Marina and departed around 7am. The man, aged in his 70s, has now been reported as missing by his family.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
NSW supreme court to hear police application to stop pro-Palestine protests
The push by NSW police to stop two pro-Palestine demonstrations from taking place this long-weekend will be heard in the state’s supreme court today.
The matter is listed for 2pm. The Palestine Action Group has said on Instagram it will hold a rally outside the court at 1.30pm.
For more on the court action, you can read this piece from Mostafa Rachwani below:
First test flights completed at Western Sydney airport
The first plane has taken off and landed at what will be Australia’s next international airport, AAP reports.
A test pilot hit the milestone in a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche aircraft at Western Sydney airport after completing a series of landing and take-off runs during daylight, dusk and evening conditions yesterday.
The trial comes ahead of the introduction of larger passenger planes which are scheduled to begin using the runway from late 2026.
The airport will open with one runway and will be able to cater for up to ten million passengers a year from day one of operations.
Weather warnings in WA, SA and NT
Let’s take a look at some of the weather warnings across the country today.
In Western Australia, a severe weather warning for damaging winds is in place for much of the south coast.
Damaging winds around 60-70km/h with peak gusts around 100km/h are likely along the coastal fringe. The system is expected to be windier than typical and unusual for this time of year, the Bureau says.
There is also a separate coastal hazard warning for damaging surf conditions.
In South Australia, a severe weather warning for damaging winds is in place for western parts of the state today. The risk is expected to ease by the mid to late afternoon. Locations which may be affected include Ceduna, Wudinna, Maralinga, Cook, Nullarbor and Streaky Bay.
And in the Northern Territory, a severe heatwave warning remains in place for Daly and the Tiwi Districts. Maximum temperatures in the high thirties to low forties are forecast. Severe heatwave conditions are set to persist until at least early next week in Daly.
Sydney protest organisers ask attendees not to bring Hezbollah flags
Josh Lees said rally organisers were asking those attending not to bring Hezbollah flags, because “they could be deemed illegal, and because we don’t want people to face arrest or legal troubles.”
I personally would not fly that flag, I don’t politically agree with Hezbollah, but we defend people’s right to hold pieces of cloth, yes, and I don’t think that the way it’s being talked about is at all reasonable in the media.
As I said, there’s no discussion of banning the Israeli flag, whereas that is a state that’s actually carried out far greater acts of terrorism and is right now starting another war on Lebanon, the fourth invasion of Lebanon in Israel’s history.
So we should have some perspective [when] we’re talking about Hezbollah and flags, about what’s really going on.
For more on this topic, you can read our explainer from Tory Shepherd below:
Pro-Palestine rally organiser says Sunday protest will go ahead regardless of court outcome
Josh Lees, a member of the Palestine Action Group Sydney, also spoke with ABC RN about the planned pro-Palestine rally in Sydney, scheduled for Sunday.
He said the group would be going ahead with the protest “regardless of what happens in the court”.
He also said the event planned on Monday 7 October would be “a small candlelight vigil to commemorate those that have been killed over the past year”.
It’s mainly about the chance for Palestinian and Lebanese people to come and grieve for the thousands of people who have died, and for their loved ones …
Host Patricia Karvelas asked whether victims of the 7 October Hamas attack would also be recognised at the vigil. Lees said people were welcome to mourn whoever they want:
October 7 is also when the genocide in Gaza began. That’s when Israeli leaders proclaimed their intention to go in and level Gaza, to starve it, to bomb it to hell. So this is also the date that marks the beginning of the genocide in Gaza. And you know, I wonder if you are putting the same question to those organising memorials for the Israeli victims of October 7, are you demanding that they mourn the 42,000 dead Palestinians?
Marles weighs in on pro-Palestine protest planned in Sydney
The deputy prime minister was also asked about comments from the PM yesterday, that 7 October is “not a time for demonstrations to occur.”
Richard Marles said he “condemn[s] in the strongest possible terms” anyone “seeking to protest in support of terrorist organisations”, including Hezbollah and Hamas.
I think it’s also worth observing that October 7 is the anniversary of a tragic and solemn day, a day on which innocent people lost their lives, the single largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. It is a moment to commemorate that, and to commemorate that with all the solemnity which is appropriate for that occasion …
There are laws applied that will apply here as well. And the authorities, principally the state authorities who implemented these laws, are clearly acting as we speak. Now, that’s where we’re at at this moment.
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president, Nasser Mashni, previously said the protests were essential “expressions of solidarity” for communities in Australia looking to oppose Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Marles calls for diplomacy to address growing violence in Middle East
Richard Marles continued, clarifying his stance to ABC RN and saying it was “completely appropriate” to call for diplomacy:
Countries have a right to defend themselves. No one is suggesting anything different to that, and we have been consistent about Israel’s right to defend itself from the outset.
The engagement in one’s own defence, it is important that that is done proportionately, and that is because we do not want to see steps taken which give rise to an escalation in this conflict, and that is exactly why we condemn the actions of Iran in firing these missiles.
That said, it is really important that we – as a member of the international community – are articulating in the strongest possible voice the need for diplomacy to be engaged in to see it into the hostilities. And we’re doing that as well, and that’s that’s completely appropriate.
