![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\nThree Nationals frontbenchers resign after breaking ranks to oppose hate speech lawsTom McIlroy<\/p>\n
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has accepted the resignation of three Nationals MPs over their decision to split with shadow cabinet on Labor\u2019s hate speech bill.<\/p>\n
Bridget McKenzie, Ross Caddell and Susan McDonald will all move to the backbench after voting against the legislation on Tuesday night, the latest in a series of high profile departures under Ley and Nationals leader, David Littleproud.<\/p>\n
Convention requires frontbenchers to vote in line with shadow cabinet\u2019s decision or resign their role on the frontbench.<\/p>\n
\u201cSenator Bridget McKenzie, Senator Susan McDonald and Senator Ross Cadell have each offered their resignations from the Shadow Cabinet, as is appropriate, and I have accepted them,\u201d Ley said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll three Senators have written to me confirming that they \u201cremain ready to continue serving the Coalition<\/a> in whatever capacity you consider appropriate \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have asked each to continue serving in our Coalition team, across their various parliamentary and committee duties, but from outside the Shadow Cabinet.\u201d<\/p>\n Littleproud will nominate new members to fill the vacancies in shadow cabinet.<\/p>\n \u201cMaintaining a strong and functioning Coalition is in the national interest,\u201d Ley said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Coalition exists to serve the Australian people. But shadow cabinet solidarity is not optional. It is the foundation of serious opposition and credible government.\u201d<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.40 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n NSW housing completions hit five-year high: ABS<\/p>\n NSW has recorded its highest housing completion numbers in five years, with 13,057 homes built from July to September 2025. This is the highest quarter for the state since March 2021.<\/p>\n The state is leading the nation, with more than 75,000 homes under construction. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows housing completions in NSW are trending up by 37% in the September quarter compared to the June quarter.<\/p>\n The minister for planning and public space, Paul Scully, said:<\/p>\n In the last term for the Liberals and Nationals government, housing construction collapsed. We\u2019re turning this around.<\/p>\n These figures are an encouraging sign that all the work the Minns Labor government has been doing to turn the planning system around and unlock more homes right across NSW is showing results.<\/p>\n These aren\u2019t just numbers, they are real homes being delivered for the people of NSW. Each completion means a new key in a new door to help address the state\u2019s housing challenges and give people the ability to choose the neighbourhoods they want to live in.<\/p>\n We know there\u2019s still more work to be done, but more houses are being approved, and more houses are being built, and that\u2019s welcome news.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.19 EST<\/p>\n Palestine group seeks authorised February march as NSW police narrow protest ban<\/p>\n The Palestine Action Group lodged a form 1 with police to carry out a protest in early February after the police commissioner confirmed protests would no longer be restricted on streets south of Hyde Park.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, announced a 14-day extension to the declaration preventing the authorisation of protests under NSW\u2019s form 1 system, but narrowed the area it covers in a bid to get \u201cthe balance right between community safety and a right to protest\u201d ahead of Invasion Day.<\/p>\n The Palestine Action Group spokesperson, Josh Lees, said the group submitted a form 1 with the group Jews Against Occupation after the announcement was made. It proposes a march from Hyde Park to Belmore Park on 1 February.<\/p>\n Lees said:<\/p>\n That is a chance for us now to have an authorised protest, and for the thousands and thousands of people in this country to come out yet again peacefully, to express our opposition to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.<\/p>\n Lanyon extended the restriction on protests for a third time, with the current one due to end on 4 February. Police were given the controversial power to restrict protests for up to 90 days after a terrorist attack in December after the Minns government rushed laws through parliament in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.09 EST<\/p>\n Jewish group accuses government of \u2018Trumpian repression\u2019 over hate laws <\/p>\n The Jewish Council of Australia has accused the Albanese government of a \u201cTrumpian repression of our democratic rights\u201d after the attorney general confirmed new hate group laws could theoretically impact groups who accuse Israel of genocide. <\/p>\n Appearing on ABC\u2019s 7.30 program on Tuesday night, the attorney general, Michelle Rowland, confirmed a group could theoretically be banned under the new hate group legislation if it accused Israel of genocide and rejected its right to exist, and as a result, Jewish Australians felt harassed or intimidated.<\/p>\n But Rowland said other criteria, including breaching relevant state laws dealing with racial vilification, would also have to be met.<\/p>\n The Jewish Council of Australia\u2019s statement, read by the Palestine Action Group spokesperson, Josh Lees, at a press conference on Wednesday, said:<\/p>\n \u201cNot only does this indicate a move towards Trumpian repression of our democratic rights, it also represents an attempt to slander and intimidate hundreds of thousands of Australians who have been protesting against Israel\u2019s genocide and egregious human rights abuses.<\/p>\n Lees said Rowland\u2019s comments should be \u201cdeeply disturbing to everyone in this country\u201d. <\/p>\n He said the \u201caccusation that Israel has committed a genocide in Gaza is not a fringe position\u201d, pointing to it being the opinion of genocide scholars and human rights organisations.<\/p>\n Lees said he did not take comfort in Rowland clarifying that a group would have to breach state laws dealing with racial vilification before it could be considered a \u201chate group\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIt seems very unclear to us, again, what that is going to mean in practice. And one of the scandalous things we see now is a very determined attempt to try to define criticism of Israel as racial vilification, which, of course, is absurd.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.12 EST<\/p>\n EPA waves through WA fracking project that may add up to 2.6% to Australia\u2019s emissions<\/p>\n A controversial fracking proposal in Western Australia\u2019s Kimberley region has been recommended for approval by the state\u2019s Environmental Protection Authority, a move criticised as \u201coutrageous\u201d over the project\u2019s potential climate pollution and environmental impacts.<\/p>\n The EPA on Tuesday recommended that the Valhalla project, which proposes to drill up to 20 gas wells in the Canning basin, proceed subject to certain conditions.<\/p>\n Bennett Resources, a subsidiary of US-based Black Mountain Energy, announced the fracking proposal \u2013 located about 123km south-east of the town of Derby \u2013 in 2020.<\/p>\n Bill Hare, a climate scientist and the chief executive of Climate Analytics, has estimated that Valhalla, \u201cif developed as planned, would add 1.8\u20132.6% to Australia\u2019s [greenhouse gas] emissions\u201d.<\/p>\n Read more here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Nationals MP criticises rushed process around new hate speech laws<\/p>\n Nationals MP Susan McDonald has issued a statement about her decision to quit the shadow ministry, insisting she supports the intent of the legislation she voted against.<\/p>\n McDonald has criticised the rushed process of the new laws and moves to the backbench along with Bridget McKenzie and Ross Cadell.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has accepted my offer of resignation from her Shadow Cabinet.<\/p>\n \u201cThis follows a decision by the Nationals Party Room yesterday to not support the Government\u2019s rushed Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026. I support both the intent of the legislation and the Coalition\u2019s firm stance against antisemitism, hate and extremism.<\/p>\n \u201cServing as the Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, and the Shadow Cabinet under both Peter Dutton and Sussan Ley has been a privilege. I thank my leader David Littleproud for entrusting me to serve in this position.<\/p>\n \u201cAustralia\u2019s wealth and prosperity is built on the backbone of our resources sector. The 1.1 million direct and indirect employees of this great industry work every day to build a better nation, and deliver the essential minerals and energy resources the world needs.<\/p>\n \u201cOur northern border remains the front line against Australia\u2019s enemies. The men and women of the North are built tough, and as a resident of Northern Australia, I know their challenges first hand.<\/p>\n \u201cSecuring the future of Northern Australia, and our resources\u2019 wealth, requires careful planning and considered decision making.<\/p>\n \u201cI remain committed to serving and delivering for Queenslanders.\u201d<\/p>\n Nationals MP Susan McDonald has resigned from shadow cabinet after breaking ranks to oppose hate speech laws. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.41 EST<\/p>\n Shares slump and gold hits records for third consecutive day in a row Australia\u2019s share market is on track to fall for a third day in a row, following US markets downhill as international investors worry about Donald Trump\u2019s Greenland gambit.<\/p>\n The benchmark S&P\/ASX200 has lost about $36bn since Monday morning, falling from Friday\u2019s close of 8,903 to sit at 8,781 points on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n Commonwealth Bank shares have fallen over that period from $154.30 to $147.88, their lowest since Trump\u2019s Liberation Day tariff announcement in April sent markets spiralling. Australia\u2019s biggest company, once worth $319bn, is now worth $247bn.<\/p>\n Investors sold out of stocks overnight in the US, Europe and Asia as Trump\u2019s war of words escalated with European leaders over his plans to annex Greenland.<\/p>\n Gold prices have hit records three days in a row as investors look for a safe haven, surpassing A$7,000 per ounce for the first time in history, with share prices rising for Australia\u2019s miners as a result.<\/p>\n The Australian share market is on track to fall for a third day in a row, as international investors worry about Trump\u2019s plans to annex Greenland. Photograph: Steven Markham\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.42 EST<\/p>\n Three Nationals frontbenchers resign after breaking ranks to oppose hate speech laws The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has accepted the resignation of three Nationals MPs over their decision to split with shadow cabinet on Labor\u2019s hate speech bill.<\/p>\n Bridget McKenzie, Ross Caddell and Susan McDonald will all move to the backbench after voting against the legislation on Tuesday night, the latest in a series of high profile departures under Ley and Nationals leader, David Littleproud.<\/p>\n Convention requires frontbenchers to vote in line with shadow cabinet\u2019s decision or resign their role on the frontbench.<\/p>\n \u201cSenator Bridget McKenzie, Senator Susan McDonald and Senator Ross Cadell have each offered their resignations from the Shadow Cabinet, as is appropriate, and I have accepted them,\u201d Ley said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cAll three Senators have written to me confirming that they \u201cremain ready to continue serving the Coalition<\/a> in whatever capacity you consider appropriate \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have asked each to continue serving in our Coalition team, across their various parliamentary and committee duties, but from outside the Shadow Cabinet.\u201d<\/p>\n Littleproud will nominate new members to fill the vacancies in shadow cabinet.<\/p>\n \u201cMaintaining a strong and functioning Coalition is in the national interest,\u201d Ley said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Coalition exists to serve the Australian people. But shadow cabinet solidarity is not optional. It is the foundation of serious opposition and credible government.\u201d<\/p>\n Opposition leader, Sussan Ley has accepted the resignation of three Nationals frontbenchers after they broke ranks to oppose hate speech laws. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.40 EST<\/p>\n Victoria police find man\u2019s body after search for suspect in early morning stabbing<\/p>\n Victoria police said they discovered<\/a> the body of a man after searching for a suspect in an early morning stabbing of a woman in the Melbourne suburb of Kew.<\/p>\n Officials said the woman, 18, was confronted by a man known to her at around 1am on Wednesday morning outside a home in Kew. She was allegedly stabbed, suffering what was initially believed to be life-threatening injuries. She was taken to hospital and is now in a stable condition.<\/p>\n Police received a triple zero call later that morning and later discovered the body of a man in Antwerp, Victoria, in the state\u2019s west \u2013 more than four hours, or about 300kms, from Kew \u2013 around 6.15am this morning.<\/p>\n Detectives are continuing their investigations into the incident, but are not looking for anyone else in relation to the alleged attack.<\/p>\n The death of the man is not being treated as suspicious.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.51 EST<\/p>\n Extreme temperatures recorded in Western Australia<\/p>\n Large parts of Western Australia are experiencing severe to extreme heatwave conditions, with temperatures in the high 40s recorded on Tuesday.<\/p>\n A January heat record was broken at Shark Bay airport, near the popular tourist destination of Monkey Mia. The observation station recorded a temperature of 49.2C at 3.45pm AWST on Tuesday, a Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said. The maximum was over 2C higher than the previous record, which was set in January 2015.<\/p>\n The BoM spokesperson said:<\/p>\n Across the Gascoyne and Pilbara region, temperatures were slightly below those observed in other extreme heat events in recent years. However, they are exceptional against historical records, being 12 to 16C above the January average.<\/p>\n The spokesperson added that Geraldton airport, which recorded a temperature of 47.1C, was also notable \u2013 that maximum is the equal fourth hottest ever recorded in January.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Future of rogue Nationals a test of Ley\u2019s leadership, Watt says Sussan Ley\u2019s call on whether to sack three Nationals frontbenchers who broke ranks to oppose hate speech laws is a major test of her leadership, according to the senior Labor minister Murray Watt.<\/p>\n Watt said Ley and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, must come out of \u201chiding\u201d to explain the fate of Bridget McKenzie, Susan McDonald and Ross Cadell after the trio crossed the floor on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n The three Nationals frontbenchers are prepared to quit the frontbench but are leaving the decision up to Ley. Fronting reporters in Parliament House, the environment minister said:<\/p>\n It\u2019s clearly a test of Sussan Ley\u2019s leadership and David Littleproud\u2019s leadership, whether they are prepared to see shadow ministers thumb their noses at shadow cabinet decisions.<\/p>\n If the Australian people can\u2019t have confidence in the alternative government of Australia being able to reach a decision and stick to it, then they\u2019ve got no ability to serve the Australian people.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.31 EST<\/p>\n New debris balls on Sydney beaches after revelation of huge fatberg stuck in treatment plant<\/p>\n Debris balls have washed up on Sydney\u2019s beaches after a weekend of heavy rain, with the objects found on Malabar beach next to a sewage treatment works and also in Botany Bay.<\/p>\n Sydney Water erected a sign at Malabar beach warning of the potential pollution.<\/p>\n Signage and debris balls on the beach at Malabar. Photograph: Anne Davies\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cThis area may be affected by sewage debris balls,\u201d the sign states. \u201cPlease do not touch any debris. We are cleaning the area and apologise for any inconvenience.\u201d<\/p>\n On Tuesday evening, there were more than a dozen black and grey blobs among other beach debris. When broken open, they had a foul smell. There were also smaller, grey balls.<\/p>\n Read more here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tasmania deploys more firefighters to Victoria<\/a> to help after bushfires<\/p>\n Tasmania\u2019s fire service has now deployed 51 personnel and 10 vehicles to help Victoria after a raft of bushfires spread across the state earlier this month.<\/p>\n More highly-trained firefighters left today for Victoria, en route to support those working on the Mallee, Walwa and Otway fires.<\/p>\n The fire service said the teams would assist with ongoing firefighting activities, adding Tasmania was doing its part to help the national effort. Matt Lowe, the deputy chief officer of the Tasmania fire service, said in a statement:<\/p>\n The purpose of this deployment is twofold. We send crews over and that\u2019s reciprocated when we get busy, as we saw last year with the west coast fires.<\/p>\n But also it\u2019s a valuable time for our people to obtain skills and to work with other agencies, so that they can bring back that knowledge and those skills and apply it in their own state.<\/p>\n The majority of fires in Victoria are now in [the] mop-up and clean-up stage, but they are conscious that with the upcoming fire weather in Victoria, with significant heat and wind coming, they may get new starts which our people can then be redeployed to.<\/p>\n Aftermath of the bushfires at Harcourt, Victoria. Photograph: Ellen Smith\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.48 EST<\/p>\n \u2018Shattered\u2019 parents of Canadian backpacker found dead on K\u2019gari island mourn adventurous daughter<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m 18, and you can\u2019t stop me!\u201d Piper James told her father before she set off backpacking on the other side of the Pacific Ocean \u2013 but the young Canadian woman\u2019s trip to Australia ended in tragedy and trauma.<\/p>\n Early on Monday, the now 19-year-old was found dead on a beach on the world heritage-listed sand island and tourist destination of K\u2019gari off the Queensland coast, surrounded by a pack of dingoes near the Maheno shipwreck.<\/p>\n A supplied undated photo of Piper James. Photograph: Todd James\/PR IMAGE<\/p>\n A postmortem into her death was to begin on Wednesday, with Queensland police saying a coroner would examine whether she drowned in dangerous waters off the island\u2019s eastern beaches or was killed by the wild canids \u2013 as well as other \u201cpotential possibilities\u201d.<\/p>\n Read more here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.26 EST<\/p>\n Aurora australis lights up night sky<\/p>\n Some photos have filtered through of last night\u2019s appearance of the aurora australia, or southern lights, following a major solar storm.<\/p>\n The display was seen across large parts of southern Australia and New Zealand last night.<\/p>\n Two women with a dog are seen taking a selfie with the southern lights at Werribee South Beach, Victoria. Photograph: Ye Myo Khant\/SOPA Images\/ShutterstockThe aurora australis glows on the horizon over the waters of Lake Ellesmere on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand. Photograph: Sanka Vidanagama\/NurPhoto\/ShutterstockPeople watching the southern lights at Werribee South Beach. Photograph: Ye Myo Khant\/SOPA Images\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Three Nationals frontbenchers resign after breaking ranks to oppose hate speech lawsTom McIlroy The opposition leader, Sussan Ley,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":420274,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4,450,451,3,452,453],"class_list":["post-420273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-breaking-news","tag-breaking-news","tag-breakingnews","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=420273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420273\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/420274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=420273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=420273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=420273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Opposition](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5987.jpg\")
Opposition leader, Sussan Ley has accepted the resignation of three Nationals frontbenchers after they broke ranks to oppose hate speech laws. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Jordyn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Jordyn_Beazley,_L.png\")
Jordyn Beazley<\/p>\nJordyn Beazley<\/p>\n![\"Donna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Donna_Lu.png\")
Donna Lu<\/p>\nTom McIlroy<\/p>\n![\"Luca](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Luca_Ittimani.png\")
Luca Ittimani<\/p>\nTom McIlroy<\/p>\nDonna Lu<\/p>\n![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Dan_Jarvis-Bardy.png\")
Dan Jervis-Bardy<\/p>\n![\"Anne](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Anne_Davies,_L.png\")
Anne Davies<\/p>\n![\"Joe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768976712_934_Eden_Gillespie.png\")
Joe Hinchliffe<\/p>\n