What we learned, Wednesday 30 July
It’s time to wind down our lives news coverage for the day. Here’s what’s been keeping us busy:
Australia signed a new joint-statement of 15 foreign ministers, including France and Canada, on Gaza, expressing their “unwavering commitment” to a two-state solution.
The Labor MP Ed Husic says Australia joining with countries including France and the UK to recognise Palestinian statehood would end Hamas’s power in Gaza.
The Coalition, meanwhile, said it had “serious concerns” about the government recognising a Palestinian state “outside of a proper two-state process”.
A motion calling Israel’s aid blockade of Gaza a breach of international law and placing pressure on the Albanese government to ramp up pressure against Israel passed the Senate after Labor and the Greens teamed up.
The Zionist Federation of Australia revealed it was “deeply troubled” by the starvation crisis gripping Gaza and urged Israel to ensure sufficient aid flows to Palestinian civilians “without delay”.
The NSW premier said a pro-Palestinian protest on Sydney Harbour Bridge would be a “logistical and communications Everest”.
Inflation dropped to 2.1% in the year to June, from 2.4% in the year to March, as further evidence of waning underlying price pressures paves the way for a Reserve Bank rate cut next month. Jim Chalmers called the data “stunning”.
Google reacted to the government’s decision to include YouTube in the under-16s social media ban (though YouTube kids will be exempt), saying the platform was “not social media”.
Finally, what does a tech giant do when it comes to screen time at home? Scott Farquhar’s children have “very defined screen time” and he makes sure he is aware of what they are viewing, he said.
As ever, a big thank you for joining us. We’ll be back with more breaking news tomorrow from 7am.
Updated
Reality TV star’s trial delayed
The trial of reality TV star Matt Wright on charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice after a fatal outback helicopter crash has again been delayed.
The February 2022 crash killed Wright’s friend and Outback Wrangler TV show co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson, who was hanging from a sling under the chopper on a mission to collect crocodile eggs, AAP reports.
A jury was set to be chosen on Thursday.
But in the supreme court in Darwin on Wednesday, acting Justice Alan Blow rescheduled the empanelment for 5 August.
It ensures the jury will be selected after a long weekend, with 4 August marking the Picnic Day public holiday in the territory.
The start of the trial has been delayed several times and pre-trial legal argument before Blow is set to continue this week.
Updated
