What we learned; Tuesday 16 September
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here are the main stories from the day:
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, says the situation in Gaza had “gone beyond the world’s worst fears” before the UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
The Coalition continues to scrap over the climate crisis, with a senior Liberal warning of a mass exodus from the frontbench if the party pursues a policy of net zero by 2050 at “any costs”, and a senior National not ruling out another split between the parties;
Australia and Papua New Guinea will agree to defend each other in the event of a military attack, part of a landmark defence agreement due to be signed on the sidelines of celebrations to commemorate the country’s independence this week;
Australia’s online safety watchdog has recommended social media platforms undertake the “most minimally invasive techniques” to determine a user’s age from December when a ban on under-16 users kicks in.
A 25-year-old man has died and seven people – including five police officers – are being treated in hospital after a gas leak at a restaurant in Sydney’s north-west.
Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest person, is lending a hand to Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in her fight against defamation allegations brought by the chief executive officer of the Central Land Council.
Sean Bell, who has worked in Pauline Hanson’s office for the past nine years, was named as One Nation’s replacement for the Senate after Warwick Stacey resigned for health reasons in August.
The head of the Reserve Bank’s economics department, Sarah Hunter, has downplayed the recent jump in inflation as measured by the monthly consumer price indicator.
We will see you here again tomorrow.
Updated
Wong responds to UN commission of inquiry's Gaza genocide finding
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, says the situation in Gaza had “gone beyond the world’s worst fears” before the UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
The UN released its report on Tuesday, and found top Israeli officials including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had incited these acts.
In a statement, Wong said the government has “condemned Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians seeking to access water and food”.
The Netanyahu government is more isolated than ever. Israel will be judged by the international court of justice on its compliance with the genocide convention.
We reiterate our demand on the Netanyahu government to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, and to stop undermining a two state solution.
Wong said the government remains unequivocal in its condemnation of Hamas, and calls for the release of hostages.
Updated
