What we learned, Sunday 11 August
And that’s where we’ll leave you today. Here’s a snapshot of the day’s news:
Australia’s minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, has condemned the deaths of more than 80 civilians after an Israeli missile strike on a school in Gaza City overnight.
Anthony Albanese was in South Australia this morning to announce that a consortium will take responsibility for a major road project in Adelaide.
The prime minister commended Rachael “Raygun” Gunn for competing in the breaking competition at the Olympics this week, after she was targeted with online vitriol for her performance.
Asio director general, Mike Burgess, says the federal government raised the terror threat to probable because people were becoming radicalised more quickly by a range of ideologies thinking “violence is the answer”.
Burgess confirmed Iran as one of “at least three or four” countries involved in foreign interference in Australia’s diaspora communities.
A platform to screen newborns for multiple genetic conditions will receive $5.5m in federal funding for a 12-month pilot.
A 14-year-old girl has been charged with murder after police investigations of an alleged stabbing at Point Vernon on Saturday.
The hospitalisation rate of Queensland children under five with the flu has doubled in the last week.
Thanks so much for your company today. You’ll have Amy Remeikis back in the hot seat tomorrow for Politics Live. See you then.
Updated
Albanese: ‘Raygun had a crack, good on her’
The prime minister has commended Rachael “Raygun” Gunn for competing in the breaking competition at the Olympics this week after she was targeted with online vitriol for her performance.
Anthony Albanese said in a press conference this morning that Gunn’s participation was “in the Australian tradition of people having a go”:
The Olympics is about people participating in sport – that’s a good thing. And Raygun had a crack, good on her, and a big shout-out to her. That is in the Australian tradition of people having a go. She’s had a go representing our country and that’s a good thing.
One of the things that I hope happens as a result of our magnificent performance of these athletes, the best performance in any Olympics ever, is that these young people watching … they’re watching like other young people and thinking, “You know what? Brisbane 2032 – I could have a go there”.
It was important to get people off their phones and into sport, Albanese said:
Doesn’t matter what people are doing, it’s a good thing that they’re participating in sport. It’s good for their physical health, but also so important for their mental health as well. And I think that is the message of the Olympic spirit.
The Australian athletes will arrive back in Sydney at 7am on Wednesday, with the PM waiting to welcome them.
Updated
