New hate speech laws ‘toughest ever’, attorney general says
Michelle Rowland, the attorney general, said new laws designed to counter hate speech will be crafted to address the “pure evil” of the Bondi terror attack and help keep Australians safe.
Rowland spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying every level of government had a primary responsibility to protect their citizens. She said:
This is a legislative package to combat hate, it’s designed to protect Australians. … Once passed, these will be the toughest hate speech laws the commonwealth has ever had.
She stressed the government had consulted with both Christian and Muslim religious groups on the legislation, adding those conversations were ongoing.
We have taken the time to ensure that we have crafted a comprehensive package that goes towards protecting all Australians. Each element’s been carefully designed to address the most pertinent issues that come out of Bondi.
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Updated at 22.21 CET
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Louise Adler steps down as director of Adelaide writers’ week
The director of Adelaide writers’ week, Louise Adler, has resigned after the board of the Adelaide festival announced it had dumped the Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the literary event.
“I cannot be party to silencing writers, so with a heavy heart I am resigning from my role as the director of the AWW,” said Adler, one of Australia’s most influential literary figures.
“Writers and writing matters, even when they are presenting ideas that discomfort and challenge us. We need writers now more than ever, as our media closes up, as our politicians grow daily more cowed by real power, as Australia grows more unjust and unequal.”
Adler announced her resignation in an opinion piece published in Guardian Australia on Tuesday.
Read more here:
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National day of mourning for Bondi victims to be held 22 January
The prime minister announced earlier that the country will hold a national day of mourning for the victims of the Bondi terror attack on Thursday, 22 January.
Flags will be flown at half mast in all commonwealth buildings around Australia. Albanese said the decision came after consultation with Sydney rabbi Yehoram Ulman:
This will have a theme of ‘light will win’, a gathering of unity and remembrance.
More details about the day will be announced at the end of this week.
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Updated at 22.25 CET
Alyssa Healy to retire from cricket in March
The captain of Australia’s women’s team, Alyssa Healy, has announced she will retire from cricket in March, after the upcoming series with India, AAP reports.
The wicketkeeper-batter has been playing for Australia for 15 years, making her debut as a teenager. She said:
It’s with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia. I’m still passionate about playing for Australia, but I’ve somewhat lost that competitive edge that’s kept me driven since the start, so the time feels right to call it a day. …
I’ll genuinely miss my teammates, singing the team song and walking out to open the batting for Australia. Representing my country has been an incredible honour and I’m grateful for one last series in the green and gold.
Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy. Photograph: Mahesh Kumar A/APShare
Updated at 22.11 CET
Albanese says changes to gun laws won’t punish responsible gun owners
The prime minister was just asked if changes to gun legislation would penalise responsible gun owners. He stressed that any changes are meant to be sensible closures to loopholes, including plans to limit ownership to Australian citizens.
If you have a look at the commonwealth legislation that will go before the parliament, it will stop non-citizens from having guns. It think that is just common sense.
I reckon Australians would be surprised that non-citizens can get a gun licence … We’re closing that loophole.
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Updated at 21.54 CET
New role a ‘continuation of Rudd’s public service’, PM says
Albanese said the decision to step down was “entirely” Rudd’s, but said the ambassador’s next role will only continue his work to advance the public interest.
Rudd is leaving a year early, but he “has served three years”, the prime minster said.
Kevin Rudd has a work ethic unlike anyone I’ve ever met. … He sees this as a continuation of his public service, not just to Australia but to the global community.
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Updated at 21.54 CET
Penny Wong: ‘Kevin Rudd has served this nation well’
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, is running through a list of Rudd’s achievements while in the US, echoing Albanese’s praise on Aukus under both US presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
She pointed to deals on critical minerals and AI datacentres and said Rudd’s work had helped strengthen the Australian economy and security for “decades to come”.
I have seen first-hand how hard he works, not just in the last few years but throughout his public life. He’s always brought an extraordinary level of energy and discipline to public service.
He applied his relentless effort, his experience, intellect and determination to advance Australia’s interests in Washington, and Kevin Rudd has served the nation well.
Kevin Rudd at the White House. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 21.39 CET
Kevin Rudd to step down as ambassador to US
Kevin Rudd will step down from his role as Australian ambassador to the US at the end of March, Albanese just announced.
On behalf of our nation, we thank Kevin for his service to Australia, and for taking forward Australia’s interests with our closest security ally.
Rudd will become the global president of leading international relations at the Asia Society.
Albanese praised Rudd for his work to advance economic relations between Australia and the US, as well as on the AUKUS submarine deal.
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Updated at 21.33 CET
Albanese pays tribute to farmer who died in Longwood fire
Albanese is up, beginning his comments with a message of condolence to the family of Maxwell Hobson, the man who died in the Longwood fire in Victoria. Hobson was a cattle farmer in the area.
The prime minister said:
That community will be grieving today, and I say to those people in Victoria but also those in the flood-affected areas of Queensland: this is not over.
Please stay safe, listen to the authorities, and once again – I thank the volunteers, the police and emergency services, the Rural Fire Service, and others, who are helping each other get through what is a very difficult time.
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Updated at 21.29 CET
New hate speech laws ‘toughest ever’, attorney general says
Michelle Rowland, the attorney general, said new laws designed to counter hate speech will be crafted to address the “pure evil” of the Bondi terror attack and help keep Australians safe.
Rowland spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying every level of government had a primary responsibility to protect their citizens. She said:
This is a legislative package to combat hate, it’s designed to protect Australians. … Once passed, these will be the toughest hate speech laws the commonwealth has ever had.
She stressed the government had consulted with both Christian and Muslim religious groups on the legislation, adding those conversations were ongoing.
We have taken the time to ensure that we have crafted a comprehensive package that goes towards protecting all Australians. Each element’s been carefully designed to address the most pertinent issues that come out of Bondi.
Share
Updated at 22.21 CET
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is due to speak in about 10 minutes. We’ll bring you live updates when he’s up.
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Good morning, and happy Tuesday. Nick Visser here to guide you through the day’s news. Let’s get to it.
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$1m reward announced 50 years after disappearance of Eloise Worledge
Caitlin Cassidy
Victoria police have issued a $1m reward for information in relation to the suspicious disappearance of Eloise Worledge, five decades since she was last seen.
The reward is the only one of its kind in the state, as it includes payment for information leading to the location or Worledge’s remains, not just regarding a possible perpetrator.
Eloise Worledge, who disappeared 50 years ago from her home in Victoria
Worledge, then eight, was reported missing by her parents on 13 January 1976. She had last been seen in her bed at home in Beaumaris about 11.40pm the previous night.
The following day, her parents found the fly screen on her window cut and rolled open, however nothing else appeared to have been taken from the room.
Despite the efforts of police, no credible evidence has ever emerged that conclusively explained the girl’s disappearance or identified those responsible.
Detective Insp Dave Dunstan from the missing persons squad said the past decades had been “incredibly difficult for Eloise’s family and to this day, they live with the trauma of her disappearance and it continues to impact them”.
Eloise’s parents not only passed away without ever knowing what became of their daughter, but they also endured years of unfair speculation that they were involved.
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Updated at 20.57 CET
PM to speak on hate speech laws
Anthony Albanese is expected to have more to say this morning about the hate speech legislation that he wants to push through parliament next week.
The prime minister confirmed yesterday that parliament would be recalled early for two days on Monday and Tuesday next week to rush through the new laws. Parliament had been due to return for the year on 3 February. The sitting will include condolence motions for the 15 people killed at Bondi last month.
But as Krishani Dhanji reports this morning, there may be a loophole in the bill as it stands which would allow someone accused of hate speech to plead innocent if they had been quoting a religious text in whatever it was they were accused of saying.
Read her full story here:
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Updated at 21.13 CET
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Nick Visser will be your guide.
Anthony Albanese is expected to address the media very soon to give more details about his government’s plans to crack down on hate speech and antisemitism after the Bondi terror attack. We will have live updates as soon as the prime minister starts speaking.
And Victoria police have issued a $1m reward for information in relation to the suspicious disappearance of Eloise Worledge, five decades since she was last seen.
Stay tuned, as we bring you the latest developments this Tuesday.
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