Posted by Key events
Angus Taylor defends Dutton’s comparison between Port Arthur and pro-Palestine protest
Liberal MP Angus Taylor has defended opposition leader Peter Dutton’s decision to compare the Port Arthur massacre to a pro-Palestine protest on 9 October, to make a point about the government’s need to seize important matters.
Speaking on ABC RN earlier this morning, Taylor labelled Dutton’s speech as a “clarion call” to “stand up against the rising tide of antisemitism in the country”.
Which is something that [the] prime minister has failed to do.
Taylor said Dutton’s argued was that former prime minister John Howard “showed the moral leadership that was needed” following the Port Arthur massacre but Anthony Albanese has “been weak”.
So the call here is for moral leadership and I don’t think we have seen that from Anthony Albanese.
Tamsin Rose
NSW government expands policy to rezone land around train stations
The New South Wales government’s policy to increase density around train stations to address the housing crisis will expand.
The planning minister, Paul Scully, has announced that a further six stations have been added to the Transport Oriented Development scheme after consultation with councils.
Belmore, Lakemba, Punchbowl, Cardiff, Cockle Creek and Woy Woy will now be included alongside the 31 stations announced last year. Scully said:
I applaud the councils that have worked collaboratively with my department which has resulted in a Tod policy that is tailored to each location and community.
I encourage others to sit down and help us address the housing crisis by working together to find well located housing across the State for young people, essential workers and families who desperately need to access the housing market.
Read more:
As we flagged just earlier, Victorian police are expected to give an update on the ongoing search for Samantha Murphy later this morning.
In the meantime, here is the latest information on the ongoing search from yesterday:
Australia updates travel advice for Israel amid concerns of military action from Iran
Australia has updated its travel advice for Israel, with the foreign minister, Penny Wong, stating Australia is “deeply concerned” by indications Iran is preparing military action against Israel.
In a post to X, Wong said she had spoken with Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian overnight and urged Iran to “use its influence in the region to promote stability, not contribute to escalation”.
I also called on Iran to push Hamas to agree to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and release hostages.
Australia will continue working with partners who have influence in the region to stop the conflict from spreading. Further conflict will only add to the devastation in the Middle East.
Australia’s travel advice for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories says people should reconsider their need to travel, and warns there is “an increased threat of military and terrorist attacks against Israel and Israeli interests across the region”.
The security situation could deteriorate quickly, with little or no notice.
This may also result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and flight diversions, and other travel disruptions. Airports may pause operations due to heightened security concerns. This may cause flight delays or cancellations.
Welcome
Emily Wind
Good morning, and welcome back to the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage on this Friday.
Victoria police have said the search for missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy “is resuming”. Yesterday police launched a new bid to find her body, with officers searching the Enfield state park after “intelligence derived from a number of sources” had led them to the new search area.
Police are expected to provide more information later this morning, which we’ll bring you here on the blog.
Meanwhile, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, said Australia is “deeply concerned” about indications Iran is preparing military action against Israel. She spoke to Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, last night and urged the nation to “use its influence in the region to promote stability, not contribute to escalation”.
Australia subsequently updated its travel advice for Israel, with Smart Traveller stating:
There’s an increased threat of military and terrorist attacks against Israel and Israeli interests across the region. The security situation could deteriorate quickly, with little or no notice.
See something that needs attention on the blog? You can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites or send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.