Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
NSW MP Alex Greenwich supports pro-Palestine Harbour Bridge march
Jordyn Beazley
The independent NSW MP Alex Greenwich supports the pro-Palestine protest planned for Sydney Harbour Bridge, saying it “would send a powerful global message”.
The march could still go ahead if the court sides with police, but protesters face being arrested under anti-protest laws.
Greenwich, state MP for Sydney, said there could be a march across the bridge this weekend, saying “I know it can be done”. In a statement this morning he said:
Having successfully lobbied the previous coalition government to allow a march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of LGBTQ equality during Sydney WorldPride, I know it can be done.
I share the wide-spread community horror over what is happening in Gaza and support the use of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to march against the atrocities. This would send a powerful global message of our solidarity to stop the starvation of people in Gaza.
Greenwich said he had been in regular contact with police about the weekly pro-Palestine protests – which usually marches through the Sydney CBD and falls within Greenwich’s electorate – and said it has “consistently proven to be peaceful events with police and organisers working well together to ensure public safety”:
I hope organisers continue to work with police to ensure that these protests can continue safely and that agreement can be reached to allow a protest across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Independent MP for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge with Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, during the Word Pride march in 2023. Photograph: SuppliedShareJordyn Beazley
PM reiterates that Israel’s actions in Gaza are ‘not defensible’
Back to Albanese for a moment. He was also asked on ABC’s 7.30 last night if he considers it too late for “people in Gaza, especially children in terms of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza”. He said:
These are terrible circumstances. And they are completely unjustifiable and indefensible. I made that clear in discussions I directly had with President Herzog of Israel and I make public comments as well.
I think Australians all would want to see that never happen and we are deeply concerned. It is hard for us to get aid in and certainly the dropping of aid by air has not been enough. You need to open up fully access for aid into Gaza so as to save lives.
Asked if his conclusion was that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war, he said:
Well, what I would say is that Israel’s actions are not defensible. When we passed a resolution in the parliament, we said very clearly Israel has a right to defend itself, but how it defends itself matters and it needs to comply with international law.
And when we see the substantial loss of innocent life, the deprivation that is occurring in Gaza, the fact is that Hamas, of course, with their actions on October 7, of course are responsible for engaging in terrorist activity, and the state of Israel of course responded by defending itself. But the figures that we’ve seen with the loss of innocent life and deprivation in Gaza are a human tragedy.
Asked if he was saying Israel is guilty of a war crime, Albanese said: “No, there’s processes to go through [to make] those sort of declarations.”
Updated at 16.57 EDT
Garma Festival begins
What began as a backyard barbecue and a “jam session” now attracts thousands of people to one of Australia’s most remote regions each year.
It has been 25 years since the annual Garma Festival’s humble beginnings, and the Yothu Yindi Foundation, which organises the event in northeast Arnhem Land, is paying homage to those who started it.
The location is the culturally significant ceremonial grounds of Gulkula, where each year art, song, bunggul (dance) and storytelling are showcased.
Garma has become an important policy forum, with Anthony Albanese, the Indigenous affairs minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, and other politicians slated to speak at the four-day festival.
These talks co-exist with discussions of culture, education and other significant issues for First Nations people.
The 2025 Garma theme is “rom ga waŋa wataŋu”, or “the law of the land, standing firm”, reflected the Yolngu fight for empowerment and land rights.
The two Australians who were on board a boat intercepted by Israel while trying to transport aid to Gaza last weekend were expected to arrive back in Sydney this morning.
We’ll bring you more details on that later, but you can read more about what happened to journalist Tania Safi and human rights activist Robert Martin here:
Updated at 16.38 EDT
‘Want to make sure it’s not just a gesture’: PM holds firm on Palestinian recognition positionJordyn Beazley
The prime minister said last night that Australia will only recognise a Palestinian state once it “can make a contribution to the creation of two states”.
Appearing on ABC’s 7.30 last night, Anthony Albanese was asked what had to change in order for Australia to recognise Palestinian statehood after Canada joined the UK and France’s announced they intended to do so at the UN General Assembly in September.
We will give consideration to all of the factors which are there. But I believe very strongly that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people need to be realised, but in order for that to be achieved, there needs to also be security for the state of Israel.
Asked what’s stopping Australia from making a similar commitment to Canada, Albanese said: “We want to make sure it’s not just a gesture but it’s a positive contribution.”
Albanese was pressed on what exactly needs to change for his stance to change. He responded:
Well, it won’t be a personal decision, it will be a decision by the Australian government based upon the assessment that my fellow cabinet members will make … making that declaration will actually make a difference and be a positive step towards the realisation of the two-state goal.
Asked if Australia will recognise Palestine if the US doesn’t, he said: “We’ll make our own decisions.”
ShareWelcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top stories this morning and then it’ll be Nick Visser to take you through to the weekend.
The question of whether Australia should recognise should join the UK, France and Canada in recognising a Palestinian state continues to dominate the federal politics picture this week after Anthony Albanese appeared on ABC’s 7.30 and defended his government’s stance to remain on the fence on the issue. Full details of what the prime minister said coming up.
The independent NSW MP Alex Greenwich has come out in support of the pro-Palestine protest planned for Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, saying it “would send a powerful global message”. His support comes as the Palestine Action Group goes to the supreme court today to challenge a decision by police chiefs that the bridge should not be shut down to allow the march to go ahead. We’ll have more shortly.