NSW police to meet pro-Palestine group over proposed Opera House march
Penry Buckley
The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, says a police decision as to whether to challenge an application by the Palestine Action Group to march on the Sydney Opera House is likely by the end of today.
Speaking to 2GB earlier, Catley said the group, which organised August’s Harbour Bridge protest, has submitted an application for a protest on Sunday, 12 October – which marks over two years since the start of the war in Gaza – starting at Hyde Park, before marching to the Opera House.
Catley said police were meeting with organisers to discuss the details of the application this morning.
Asked if she opposes the protest, Catley said she did not want to pre-empt the police’s decision, although she has claimed the Opera House’s trust has a bylaw which prevents protests on its forecourt. She said:
We’re not going to solve the problems of what is going on overseas on the forecourt of the Opera House, and social cohesion is the most important thing that we need to do. And I think I just ask people to be peaceful.
If police oppose the application, it will be subject to a supreme court hearing to determine whether protesters will be legally protected if the march goes ahead.
Key events
Penry Buckley
Police operation under way in south-west Sydney
A police operation is under way in Panania in south-west Sydney.
In a statement, a spokesperson for NSW police said officers attached to Bankstown area command as well as “specialist resources” were on scene on Wollongbar Avenue.
NSW police has not provided further details but the public has been urged to avoid the area.
The ABC has reported that several armed police and armoured vehicles are present on the street. We will bring you more details once they are confirmed.
Man accused of killing Molly Ticehurst closer to entering a plea, court hears
The man accused of the domestic violence murder of Molly Ticehurst appears one step closer to entering a plea, with nearly 18 months of “fragile” legal negotiations almost complete, AAP reports.
Daniel Billings, 30, is charged with murdering Ticehurst at her home in Forbes, central western NSW, in the early hours of 22 April 2024. Ticehurst’s death intensified a national movement against domestic and gendered violence.
During a brief mention in Parkes local court on Friday morning, Billings’ Legal Aid solicitor Diane Elston said negotiations with prosecutors were at an advanced stage. The parties were “90%” towards an agreed statement of facts, deputy senior crown prosecutor Lee Carr SC said via audio-visual link from Sydney.
The case was adjourned to Forbes local court in November.
Government names next national children’s commissioner
The Albanese government tapped Deborah Tsorbaris, an executive in the not-for-profit and public sectors, as the next national children’s commissioner this morning.
The role of children’s commissioner was established in 2013 and is tasked with standing up for the human rights of children and young people in Australia.
Tsorbaris has served as the CEO of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare since 2013, Victoria’s peak body for child and family services.
Attorney-general Michelle Rowland said in a statement:
The National Children’s Commissioner acts as a strong voice for the human rights of children and young people – helping them get the best start in life while ensuring their ongoing needs are put front and centre in the development of commonwealth policies and programs.
I congratulate Ms Tsorbaris on her appointment.
Tony Mokbel has convictions overturned in Lawyer X appeal
Nino Bucci
Underworld figure Tony Mokbel has had two convictions set aside by the Victorian court of appeal, in the most significant case yet involving the gangland lawyer and police informer Nicola Gobbo.
The court of appeal handed down its judgment on Friday morning in relation to several appeals filed by Mokbel.
He was successful in overturning his convictions for trafficking not less than a large commercial quantity of MDMA and for incitement to import a commercial quantity of MDMA.
The convictions were set aside and new trials were ordered on both charges.
But Mokbel was unsuccessful in his bid to appeal a conviction for trafficking not less than a large commercial quantity of methyl amphetamine.
Mokbel had been in custody for almost 18 years before he was released on bail in April pending the appeal judgment.
Police officer charged after he allegedly uploaded child abuse material to social media platform
Jordyn Beazley
A police officer has been charged over online child abuse material after he allegedly uploaded material to a social media platform.
The 26-year-old police officer, who is a constable with Sydney’s central metropolitan region command, was arrested and charged on Thursday.
NSW police on Friday morning said the officer was charged after a joint investigation with the Australian federal police under Strike Force Lautersee.
He was charged with four offences, including two counts of possessing child abuse data using a carriage service, transmit to self child abuse matter by carriage service, and soliciting child abuse matter.
NSW police said in a statement:
Police will allege in court that the man uploaded child abuse material to a social media platform.
The officer’s employment is under review and he has been suspended from duty without pay.
The man has been refused bail and will appear before Bankstown local court today.
Jane Hume says flotilla ‘not the way’ to voice discontent on Gaza
The Liberal senator Jane Hume has said the flotilla was “not the way to go about” voicing opposition to the situation in Gaza.
Hume spoke to Sunrise this morning:
The concerns that people have for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza are very real and perfectly understandable. If people would like to help they should go to maybe Oxfam or Save the Children or Unicef.
There are organisations that are fit for purpose to help with humanitarian crisis, putting yourself in danger and getting on a flotilla of boats.
Putting yourself in a war zone that is partly run a terrorist organisation is not the wisest cause of action.
NSW police to meet pro-Palestine group over proposed Opera House march
Penry Buckley
The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, says a police decision as to whether to challenge an application by the Palestine Action Group to march on the Sydney Opera House is likely by the end of today.
Speaking to 2GB earlier, Catley said the group, which organised August’s Harbour Bridge protest, has submitted an application for a protest on Sunday, 12 October – which marks over two years since the start of the war in Gaza – starting at Hyde Park, before marching to the Opera House.
Catley said police were meeting with organisers to discuss the details of the application this morning.
Asked if she opposes the protest, Catley said she did not want to pre-empt the police’s decision, although she has claimed the Opera House’s trust has a bylaw which prevents protests on its forecourt. She said:
We’re not going to solve the problems of what is going on overseas on the forecourt of the Opera House, and social cohesion is the most important thing that we need to do. And I think I just ask people to be peaceful.
If police oppose the application, it will be subject to a supreme court hearing to determine whether protesters will be legally protected if the march goes ahead.
NSW psychiatrists to receive temporary 20% pay bump, commission decides
Natasha May
The New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) has handed down a decision finding the state’s psychiatrists will receive a temporary pay rise of 20% for a 12-month period.
The case comes after 200 psychiatrists threatened to resign in January, saying it was not about the money but being unable to continue working in a system causing them moral injury, knowing they were providing substandard care to their patients when one in three permanent psychiatrists positions were vacant.
The Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (Asmof), the doctors’ union representing the psychiatrists against NSW Health, argued that the special levy was necessary to avoid the “collapse” of psychiatric care in the state.
This morning Justice David Chin announced that a special case had been made out which justifies the payment of a temporary allowance for the purpose of attracting and retaining psychiatrists.
Chin said the psychiatrists would receive a “combined interim uplift of 20% for period of 12 months”.
He said this increase was including the 10% abnormal duties allowance paid to psychiatrists since 3 February, and that the increase would be absorbed into any increase in the general award for doctors across the state. Asmof was separately still in negotiations for a new award which would apply across all doctors working in the public sector.
The NSW government has said they will accept the IRC’s decision, whatever the outcome.
Read the full report here:
Cait Kelly
Millions of Australians eligible for 5% first home buyers scheme may be unable to afford repayments
Millions of Australians eligible to take up the federal government’s new 5% deposit scheme could be unable to afford mortgage repayments, new analysis has shown.
Data compiled by the Parliamentary Library and commissioned by the Greens shows of the 3.8 million Australians in the top 10 most common professions in Australia, the vast majority would be unable to afford mortgage repayments on the median Australian home without falling into housing stress.
On Wednesday, the government expanded the scheme, which helps eligible first-time buyers get into the market with a deposit of as little as 5% by lifting borrowing limits and income caps.
Read more here:
Australia will provide consular assistance to anyone detained by Israel, minister says
Mark Butler, the health minister, said the Australian government has put in a formal request with Israeli authorities for more information about how many Australians may have been detained on the humanitarian flotilla.
Butler spoke to Channel Seven’s Sunrise this morning:
We have provided clear advice, I have to say, for Australians not to take part in these attempts to break the naval blockade because of obvious safety risks that are involved here.
I get that Australians want to see aid float, basic things like food and medicines to civilians in Gaza. But for those who are detained we’ll be providing consular assistance to them.
Dfat officials in Tel Aviv have requested information on any detained Australians
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) says that Australian officials in Tel Aviv were “liaising with Israeli authorities and have formally requested confirmation of the detention of any Australians and early consular access”.
Dfat said in a statement this morning:
Australia calls on all parties to respect international law, to ensure the safety and humane treatment of those involved.
We understand that people want to help deliver aid to those suffering in Gaza – we also want to see critical aid delivered.
For some time, we have warned against attempts to breach the naval blockade and strongly advised Australians not to do so because of the risks to their safety.
We repeat our call on Israel to enable the sustained, unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Krishani Dhanji
Supporters of Australians on flotilla believe they are in Israeli custody
Supporters of Australian Surya McEwen reported last night Australians on board a flotilla to Gaza, including McEwen, were in Israeli custody. Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) organisers last night said the ships they were on were considered intercepted by Israeli forces, as they had not made contact.
The GSF, with more than 500 people including politicians, lawyers and Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver aid.
McEwen’s supporters demanded the prime minister and foreign minister, Penny Wong, use all diplomatic and economic tools to have the Australians they believe are in Israeli custody released.
In a statement on Thursday evening, a Dfat spokesperson said the department was “aware of reports of detainments by Israeli forces on the Global Sumud Flotilla”.
Guardian Australia is working to independently verify their status.
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