Debate over the peaceful right to protest is back in the news again, this time over Cardinal George Pell.
New South Wales police are attempting via the courts to stop LGBTQ+ protesters from walking down the street outside Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral on the day of Pell’s funeral.
Police have argued the need to ensure “the safety of the wider community”. But protest organisers accuse the police of “attempting to stifle activism for LGBTI and women’s rights”.
“The right to assembly and protest is a fundamental democratic one,” said a co-organiser.
Top news
Domestic violence blitz | More than 600 people have been arrested after a four-day domestic violence blitz by NSW police. Domestic violence received a federal focus too, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announcing 10 days of annual domestic violence leave to be made available for workers from tomorrow. Highlighting the importance of the issue was news today that Queensland man Slade Murdok had been charged with murdering his mother Wendy Sleeman.
Sally Rugg v Monique Ryan | Sally Rugg, who was chief of staff for the independent MP Monique Ryan, has filed a federal court application seeking to keep her job. Rugg claims Ryan caused her to be sacked for refusing to work “unreasonable” additional hours.
‘Courageous’ climate scientist dies | Prof Will Steffen has been remembered as a “truly leading thinker” and someone who influenced scientific agenda and governments worldwide after he died aged 75.
Victoria bail laws to be reformed | The state government will amend bail laws this year, premier Daniel Andrews confirmed, after scathing criticism from a coroner that the laws discriminated against First Nations people. It’s worth noting that the Andrews government was informed back in 2018 that the strict bail laws – passed by Labor in 2017 – were likely to disproportionately affect Indigenous people.
Why has Israel-Palestine violence flared again? | Deadly back-and-forth violence sparked by an Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank has fuelled fears of a third intifada. Some analysts say we’re already there. Here’s a quick explainer on what’s going on.
UK anti-protest bill rejected | The House of Lords has voted against a government bill aimed at cracking down on protest, setting the stage for a tense showdown between parliament’s two chambers. The UK push follows similar laws passed in Australian states that have been dubbed draconian and anti-democratic by rights activists.
Trump’s hush money to Stormy Daniels | … is being reinvestigated in a surprise move by the Manhattan district attorney in New York. The DA will present evidence of a US$130,000 payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
China winds back online study ban | As many as 50,000 Chinese nationals with student visas to Australia were scrambling for flights after the Chinese government announced a snap ban on recognising online degrees. The government later dialled back its decision, which has avoided a mad rush at Australian airports.
Full Story
Medical misogyny and the government’s plan to tackle it
We speak to the assistant health minister, Ged Kearney, about the government’s plans to tackle medical misogyny in this 26-minute episode.
What they said …
***
“I think it’s fair to say that the [NSW] premier has very little understanding of this issue and has acted from his conservative Catholic gut rather than based on evidence.” Josh Landis, CEO of ClubsNSW
Landis was sacked by ClubsNSW this afternoon after what premier Dom Perrottet described as “incredibly inappropriate and offensive” remarks about his Catholic faith. Landis, who has been fiercely critical of Perrottet’s plans to reform poker machine gambling, later apologised for the remark but was fired by the clubs lobby.
In numbers
“Some of these individuals that were arrested through the operation scare me, even with years of organised crime behind me,” said assistant NSW police commissioner Stuart Smith. Of those 648 individuals, 164 were the state’s most-wanted domestic violence offenders.
Before bed read
Do you use your clothes to clean your sunglasses (me) and set them on top of your head when you’re indoors (also me)? Stop doing that.
Our fashion columnist Lucianne Tonti writes on how to clean and care for your sunglasses without inadvertently ruining them.
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