What we learned, Friday 14 March
And that’s where we’ll wrap up today, and this working week of live news. Here’s what we learned:
Anthony Albanese says a “spiced up” new version of the Buy Australian campaign is on the way, in response to Donald Trump’s tariffs,
Kevin Rudd, Australia’s ambassador to the US, said he would continue fighting for tariff exemptions for Australian goods
Peter Dutton said he was concerned the US will impose more tariffs on Australian goods, but he doesn’t think Australia should retaliate.
Coalition MP Kevin Hogan said Australia should use critical minerals access as a ‘leverage point’ with Trump on tariffs
Former opposition leader Bill Shorten says Donald Trump is leading the free world “as if it’s a reality TV show” and his administration’s tariff regime won’t “help anyone”.
The New South Wales attorney general, Michael Daley, has defended the Minns government’s controversial hate speech laws, amid mounting calls for an inquiry into the NSW government’s response to the caravan “con-job” and related incidents.
A parliamentary inquiry into Northern Beaches hospital, which the NSW health minister promised would take place after the death of two-year-old Joe Massa at the hospital’s emergency ward in September, was announced.
Police are investigating after human remains were found at a Sydney home.
The Queensland government plans to indefinitely delay implementing human rights laws passed under the previous parliament.
The number of NBN services affected across Queensland and New South Wales due to Cyclone Alfred has been reduced to approximately 24,000.
High to extreme fire danger conditions will sweep across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales over the weekend.
Thanks so much for your company.
Updated
Muslim groups criticise Chris Minns’ response to Dural caravan plot
The Alliance of Australian Muslims (AAM) and the Australian National Imams Council (Anic) have criticised the NSW premier, Chris Minns, for his response to the spate of arson and graffiti attacks which culminated with an explosives-laden caravan being found on Sydney’s outskirts.
The AAM and Anic said Minns’ response, which included referring to the incidents as “terrorism”, left Australian Muslims “exposed to suggestions” that they may have been involved, and increased Islamophobia in the community.
This week, federal and NSW police said the caravan “con job” and 14 other antisemitic incidents across the city over the past few months were orchestrated by organised crime figures for their benefit, and were not driven by antisemitic ideology.
The AAM and Anic statement read:
It is now apparent that not only was the event not linked to terrorism, but the Premier was made aware of this at an early stage. Despite this, the NSW Premier and his Government pushed to hurriedly pass significant laws that provide protection only to some Australians based on race.
Most concerningly, the labelling of the incident as terrorism caused alarm and panic in the community and also received widespread media coverage. In turn, it left many people across the State feeling vulnerable and unsafe. The Premier’s response to the incident also left the Australian Muslim community exposed to suggestions that an Australian Arab or Australian Muslim may have been involved.
The statement continued:
In short, the Premier’s characterisation of, and response to, the incident caused panic and fear, increased Islamophobia and had the effect of undermining social cohesion in our society.
The statement follows mounting calls for an inquiry into whether Minns and his police minister misled MPs and the public before controversial hate speech and religious worship bills were rushed through state parliament on the back of the incidents. You can read more about those here:
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