What happened on Saturday 20 May, 2023
With that, we’ll wrap up our live coverage of the day’s news.
Here’s a summary of the key developments:
Anthony Albanese has held further meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the second day of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. On Saturday, the prime minister met with leaders including United States president Joe Biden – with whom he announced an agreement to advance climate action – as well as United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres.
Biden apologised to Albanese for cancelling on the Quad meeting planned for Sydney as the two nations signed agreements on a range of issues including climate, cybersecurity, defence and child safety.
New South Wales’ top cop says she will not watch confronting video of a 95-year-old grandmother being Tasered in a nursing home, as the elderly woman’s condition deteriorates in hospital.
Supporters of Victorian MP Moira Deeming have walked out of a Liberal party conference as tensions flare between members over the decision to expel her.
Australia’s trade minister, Don Farrell, said the Australian government would resume its challenge against China’s barley tariffs if Beijing’s promised review doesn’t lead to a complete removal of those imposts, in an interview with Guardian Australia’s political podcast.
Reactions to Stan Grant’s decision to stand down as host of Q&A after receiving “grotesque racist abuse” are continuing to flood in, as media personalities express support for the broadcaster.
Thanks for reading, have a pleasant evening.
Biden apologises to Albanese for cancelling on Quad meeting
The US president, Joe Biden, has apologised to the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, for cancelling the Quad meeting planned for Sydney at the last minute, AAP reports.
Biden told Albanese he was sorry they were not meeting in Sydney after the US president had to cancel his attendance at a planned Quad meeting next week that included the leaders of Japan and India.
“I deeply appreciate the flexibility of meeting me here at the G7 meeting,” Biden told Albanese at a press conference.
“I truly apologise to you for having you to come here, rather than me being in Australia right now.”
Biden cancelled the meeting amid ongoing negotiations with Republicans – who hold a majority in the US House of Representatives - over the debt ceiling ahead of a 1 June deadline.
Biden said he looked forward to hosting Albanese for a state visit in Washington DC later this year.
The White House confirmed the third in-person Quad leaders’ meeting would take place in Hiroshima on Saturday.
Updated
