‘Depth of feeling’ in Australian community over Herzog visit: Wong
Wong says she understands there are many different views held over Herzog’s visit with some, including the Palestine Action Group, still planning to protest Herzog’s arrival in Sydney next week.
Asked whether those groups should be allowed to protest, Wong says:
We are a country, a democracy where we know people have differences of views, and I do understand very keenly that people have different views about this visit. There is a depth of feeling in different communities across Australia. We see that, we feel that. What I would ask people to recall is the context and circumstances of this visit and the purpose of it, which is to honour the victims of the antisemitic terror attack.
Ed Husic, a Labor MP who has been a vocal critic of Israel, has said he has “deep concerns” over the visit.
Asked about those comments, Wong says again that she understands the “depth of feeling” in the community but that the government is working to ensure peace in the region.
I really do understand the depth of feeling about this visit, the depth of feeling in the community about what we’ve seen in Gaza, which is why we’ve been so clear about working, we’re pressing for peace with others in the international community for civilians to be protected and for aid to flow.
Key events
Australia still considering Trump’s Board of Peace invitation, says Wong
The government is still mulling over Trump’s invitation to join his ‘Board of Peace’ says Wong, but downplays the prospect of Australia’s involvement.
Wong says the arrangements for the board are different to the way Australia would normally engage, and that the government is focused on the Quad and Aukus agreements.
New Zealand has recently declined the invitation. Wong says:
The Board of Peace proposal would involve Australia being part of a treaty. Obviously, that is a different kind of arrangement to those which we would generally engage in for these sorts of matters. We are obviously considering, but I would say we continue to work closely with the United States for particularly in the context of the Quad and also AUKUS in our shared interests.
Asked when a decision will be made, Wong says it’s still being worked through, and that the government is “seeking to understand more closely what the US is seeking to do through” the Board.
‘Depth of feeling’ in Australian community over Herzog visit: Wong
Wong says she understands there are many different views held over Herzog’s visit with some, including the Palestine Action Group, still planning to protest Herzog’s arrival in Sydney next week.
Asked whether those groups should be allowed to protest, Wong says:
We are a country, a democracy where we know people have differences of views, and I do understand very keenly that people have different views about this visit. There is a depth of feeling in different communities across Australia. We see that, we feel that. What I would ask people to recall is the context and circumstances of this visit and the purpose of it, which is to honour the victims of the antisemitic terror attack.
Ed Husic, a Labor MP who has been a vocal critic of Israel, has said he has “deep concerns” over the visit.
Asked about those comments, Wong says again that she understands the “depth of feeling” in the community but that the government is working to ensure peace in the region.
I really do understand the depth of feeling about this visit, the depth of feeling in the community about what we’ve seen in Gaza, which is why we’ve been so clear about working, we’re pressing for peace with others in the international community for civilians to be protected and for aid to flow.
Wong defends Herzog visit, says government has considered legal advice
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says Israel will be judged by the International Court of Justice on its actions in Gaza, but that the visit of Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, is in the context of the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack.
Speaking to RN Breakfast this morning, Wong is asked whether the government has considered any legal advice on Herzog’s arrival.
It follows Chris Sidoti, a member of the UN commission of inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territories, calling for Herzog to be detained because the inquiry had found that he had allegedly incited genocide.
Wong says:
We always consider legal advice in relation to our obligations. I’ve made the point. We have invited him.
I have said previously that Israel will be judged by the International Court of Justice on its compliance with the Genocide Convention. And I’ve also said previously that it must accept its responsibility for the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
But let’s again go back to the context of this visit. We have the Australian Jewish community who have been targeted in an overtly antisemitic terrorist attack. We have had 15 Australians die we have families mourning and this was a request from the Jewish community for President Herzog to visit.
James Paterson would ‘absolutely’ support Ley in leadership ballot
We haven’t even touched on the drama that is the ex-Coalition, and Sussan Ley’s leadership, this morning – so let’s get into it.
James Paterson, one of the most senior members of the right faction – who was spotted at that meeting last week with Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor – says he’s not pushing for a leadership spill. He tells Sky News:
I’m advocating against a spill, I’ve consistently advocated against a spill, both publicly and privately, and I’m not anticipating one.
Asked whether he would back Ley in the event of a spill, he says:
Absolutely. I’m a member of the shadow ministry. I’m a member of the leadership group. If I were to support a spill, I would have to resign from the leadership group and from the shadow cabinet, and I haven’t done that … so you can continue to safely assume that I support Sussan’s leadership.
ACTU calls for capital gains tax reform
There’s plenty of momentum for outside parliament for a change to the capital gains tax discount – including from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast this morning, the ACTU secretary, Sally McManus, says she believes the government understands the “deep unfairness” of housing inequality in Australia.
It’s not the first time McManus has pushed for property tax reform – she’s been steadily and publicly pushing the government to act on CGT discounts and the other big property tax elephant in the room: negative gearing.
She says:
When John Howard brought in capital gains tax 26 years ago, the average wage of a worker, it would be six times more, to buy a house. Now, it’s nearly twice that, it’s 11.
It’s 1%, like, 1% of the wealthiest Australians, the ones benefiting from this [CGT discount]. I think it’s not just us, it’s like across the community, people like [independent MP] Allegra Spender, everyone saying that this needs to change and clearly it does. I do think the government is listening to that and we’re going to just keep pushing because it’s the right thing to do.
What is the capital gains tax discount?
The capital gains tax discount is likely an issue we’ll keep hearing about and talking about, so let’s do a quick revise on what it actually is.
Capital gains tax is a tax on the profit you make when you sell an asset that has increased in value, including property or shares.
Labor introduced CGT in 1985, and then John Howard introduced the discount in 1999.
The result was a big boom in investment in existing housing.
NT town of Daly River evacuated due to flooding
Daisy Dumas
An emergency declaration has forced the evacuation of an entire Northern Territory town as a major flood threatens the region.
About 450 residents of Daly River in the NT are being evacuated after the Bureau of Meteorology issued a major flood warning for the Daly River, which runs through the town of the same name, yesterday.
Supt David Moore told reporters yesterday that an emergency declaration was in place and that water levels were likely to reach more than 14m.
“Evacuations are always our last resort,” he said, adding that safety was his priority.
The residents were being moved to emergency shelter in Darwin, he said.
Moderate flooding was forecast on Wednesday evening, with major flooding likely over the weekend.
As of 11.45am local time on Wednesday, the water level at Daly River police station was 12.74m, according to the bureau.
Government downplays capital gains tax change reports
It’s time for the rule in, rule out game folks, and this time we’re talking about capital gains tax discounts.
You might remember reporting yesterday from the Financial Review that the government is considering changes. At the same time, a Greens-led inquiry is looking into the current settings around CGT and will hand down its findings and recommendations to the government.
Marles, now speaking to ABC News Breakfast, says, “the tax arrangements around our housing policies haven’t changed”.
Governments love using the line, “our policies have not changed” because all that means is they are currently unchanged, right now, which doesn’t completely shut the door on any future change but also does temper any expectations for future change.
But Marles does acknowledge that there are intergenerational challenges in housing.
So asked point blank whether the government would rule out capital gains tax changes, Marles says:
What I said, and what I’ll continue to say and what other ministers have said when asked this question, is that in respect of housing policy our position is clear and there haven’t been changes to that, including in the tax arrangements, and our strategy in terms of dealing with the intergenerational challenges, our strategy in terms of dealing with housing affordability is very much on the supply side and seeing more houses built.
Husic says he has ‘deep concerns’ over Herzog visit
One of the most high-profile critics of Herzog’s visit to Australia this week is Labor MP Ed Husic.
Husic, who has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, told the Full Story podcast yesterday that he holds “deep concerns” over the visit.
It’s really hard for me to reconcile the vision of him signing bombs that went on to be dropped on Palestinian homes … with the notion of social cohesion.
Marles, in his Sky News interview, was asked directly about Husic’s concerns but sidestepped the question and said Herzog’s visit was “important” in the context of the Bondi terror attack.
Chris Sidoti, a commissioner on the UN commission of inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, has also called on the Albanese government to withdraw the invitation.
Herzog will be a ‘welcome and honoured guest’, deputy prime minister says
The government has defended its invitation to the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, who will arrive in Australia next week, despite opposition from within Labor’s own rank and file.
Richard Marles is traversing the federal press gallery this morning, charged with the media rounds.
He tells Sky News the president, who has been invited officially by the PM and the governor general, will be a “welcome guest”.
He will be a welcome and honoured guest, and it is in the context of the aftermath of the Bondi massacre. What this will mean for Australia’s Jewish community is very significant to have the president of Israel here in terms of security. Obviously, we will be providing all the necessary security to President Herzog when he visits, as we would do for any visiting dignitary, and I’m very confident about the security arrangements that will be put in place.
In NSW, the state police have extended restrictions on protesting before the visit, but some groups say they will still go ahead with their plans to march against the Israeli president.
Good morning
Krishani Dhanji
Krishani Dhanji here with you for the final sitting day of the week.
The defence minister and deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, is in the hot seat doing the media rounds this morning after he yesterday announced a multibillion-dollar sell-off of defence properties. But this morning he’s being pushed on the upcoming visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, who will arrive in Australia next week.
And the capital gains tax concession chatter is continuing, we’ll bring you more on that shortly.
Stay with us, it’s going to be another busy one today!
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