Australia news live: Albanese condemns overnight antisemitic attack in Sydney’s east as ‘an outrage’

Clare says alleged antisemitic attack in Dover Heights ‘sickening’

The education minister Jason Clare has described the alleged antisemitic attack in Dover Heights overnight as “sickening”.

Speaking to Sunrise earlier, he said there was “no place for antisemitism in this country [and] no place for any sort of violence or any sort of hate.”

This is the absolute opposite of what Australia is all about. I condemn it, absolutely. You know, the most important thing here is that the police arrest the criminals that are responsible for this. That’s what the AFP taskforce that’s been stood up is all about.

Birmingham says ‘how ceasefire achieved really does matter’

The shadow foreign minister, Simon Birmingham, has also been speaking with ABC RN this morning amid the potential ceasefire deal. He told the program:

How that ceasefire is achieved and what it achieves really does matter, and on this occasion, we hope to see it hold, because we hope to see not just the initial batch of hostages released, but all hostages.

Asked if a Coalition government would reverse the position at the UN that Australia took last year in relation to resolutions on the Palestinian territories’ future and on Israel’s occupation, he responded:

A Coalition government would be seeking to return Australia’s policy to what had previously been long-standing by parties and policy in relation to a two-state solution … [not] to simply call for a rushed, premature recognition that doesn’t resolve the difficult issues which do need to be resolved.

Here is some more context on the vote Australia took last year:

Dreyfus says he has raised Frankcom investigation while in Israel

As a final question, Mark Dreyfus was asked whether he had been advocating for answers for the family of aid worker Zomi Frankcom, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

The attorney general responded:

We’ve already had an investigation carried out by former air vice-marshal Binskin … [and] the ongoing investigation of that matter, in Israel, is something that I have raised in discussions with ministers.

‘I am not going to speculate on those ICC arrest warrants at any level’ – Dreyfus

Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s former defence minister Yoav Gallant and the Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif were issued arrest warrants from the international criminal court (ICC) last November for alleged war crimes relating to the Gaza war.

Asked if the ceasefire would change anything, or if the ICC was within its rights to continue to pursue these, Mark Dreyfus said:

Australia is a state party to the treaty of Rome. We respect the role of the ICC. We’re not a party to this proceeding involving Israeli ministers, and I’m not going to speculate – particularly as attorney general – I am not going to speculate on those arrest warrants at any level.

Israeli ministers have ‘raised some issues’ on relationship with Australia – Dreyfus

Asked if he sensed any tension between Israel and Australia during his meetings, Mark Dreyfus said he has been “warmly welcomed” in each meeting.

There’s been a very strong friendship between our countries since Israel was founded by the United Nations, and what I’ve felt in all of the meetings is that we should be strengthening that already strong relationship between Australia and Israel. Israeli ministers have, of course, raised some issues, but in a very constructive way.

‘Overwhelming support’ in Israel for truce – Dreyfus

Mark Dreyfus said there was “overwhelming support” for a ceasefire in Israel. Speaking to ABC RN, he said:

Across Israel, there’s overwhelming support for a ceasefire, and that’s been reflected in the meetings that I’ve had with Israeli government ministers.

It’s something that has been raised in every single meeting – not just the meetings I’ve had with ministers, but with agency heads, with whom I’ve also been meeting. Everywhere you go, everything you see, there’s expectation and support for a ceasefire after the 15 months of conflict.

Dreyfus updates from Israel amid diplomatic visit

The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, is speaking with ABC RN from Tel Aviv amid his diplomatic visit to Israel.

Asked if he understood the reason for the delay on a ceasefire deal, Dreyfus said he had met with numerous people – including the president, deputy prime minister and foreign minister – and “I think that there is real optimism that this ceasefire deal will … come into effect”.

Once it does, they will open the way for the return of the hostages and for increased humanitarian assistance. It’s not done until it’s done. The Israeli cabinet is due to meet in quite possibly the next few hours and have yet to sign off. But there is an expectation, there’s an optimism, that this is going to happen.

Just earlier, Dreyfus shared an image to X with Isaac Herzog and said:

We reflected on our longstanding personal friendship which echoes the bonds of friendship between so many Israelis and Australians and our two great nations.

NSW police minister says alleged antisemitic attack ‘will not be tolerated’

Yasmin Catley has also responded to reports of an alleged antisemitic attack in Dover Heights overnight, with the NSW police minister saying in a statement:

Vehicles were set alight, defaced with antisemitic graffiti and a house splashed with paint. This disgusting act of hatred will not be tolerated.

Police are doing everything they can to identify and arrest those responsible.

There is no place for hatred or antisemitism in our society. Every person has the right to feel safe in their own city, their homes and their places of worship.

PM ‘confident’ Rudd and Wong can represent Australia at Trump inauguration

The PM was also asked about comments made by Peter Dutton earlier in the week expressing doubts over Penny Wong and Kevin Rudd representing Australia at Donald Trump’s inauguration, given comments they have made in the past.

Anthony Albanese said he was “confident”, and that Wong was “one of the few representatives of foreign governments who will attend the inauguration, along with other foreign ministers from Quad countries”.

I think that’s a very good thing. In addition to that, Kevin Rudd has been very active developing links with the new administration, and I’m very confident that Australia is showing the importance we place in the United States relationship by having a former prime minister as our ambassador.

Has Rudd had any direct contact with Donald Trump yet? The PM said “there has been direct contact” in “recent times”, and “that has been very positive”.

Kevin Rudd has worked very hard to develop relationships with the incoming administration.

The PM wouldn’t say, when asked, whether these talks occurred at Mar-a-Lago. The inauguration will occur early Tuesday morning, Australian time.

PM on Dreyfus’ diplomatic visit to Israel

Has attorney general Mark Dreyfus made progress “smoothing out” relations with Israel during his visit this week? Anthony Albanese said he has had “constructive discussions” and that Israel “doesn’t have a homogenous political system”.

It’s a democracy, and there are differences, of course, within Israel that have been expressed very clearly, both within the Netanyahu administration and within Israeli society.

Mark Dreyfus … is meeting constructively with people [including] families of the people who have hostages, have been incarcerated by this terrorist organisation, Hamas, for such a long period of time.

So Mark drove this. This was a visit that was due to happen in October. It couldn’t happen because of the conflict there, so it was delayed. And he goes with the government’s goodwill …

Albanese says antisemitic attacks ‘causing harm for unity of the community’

Circling back to Anthony Albanese’s interview on ABC RN just a moment ago: Asked about comments from antisemitism envoy that the courts are letting people off too easy when it comes to these matters, the PM said “the laws need to be enforced”.

These are largely state laws, and what we want to see is crime recognised just as that … This isn’t just a game. It’s not a matter of graffiti, for example, some other slogan on a wall, or something that causes just physical damage.

This is causing harm for unity of the community. It’s causing fear, which is what it is aimed at, and it needs to be stamped out. And in my view, very strong view, there needs to be the strongest possible action. And if courts have the opportunity to do that, they should be taking that opportunity to send that message that this is completely unacceptable and that crimes will result in appropriate penalties.