TRANSCRIPT
- Peter Dutton criticises Welcome to Country ceremonies as "overdone".
- The Filipino community in mourning after a deadly car-ramming attack in Vancouver.
- And in sport, Australian surfer Isabella Nichols claims victory at Bells Beach.
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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has criticised the frequency of Indigenous Welcome to Country ceremonies, saying they are "overdone" and divisive.
The topic has resurfaced in recent days after a known neo-Nazi booed during a Welcome to Country ceremony in Melbourne on ANZAC Day.
Mr Dutton has also reaffirmed his plan not to stand in front of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags if he becomes Prime Minister.
During the the fourth leaders' debate hosted by Channel Seven, Mr Dutton says he has firm views on Welcome to Country ceremonies.
"In relation to the Welcome to Country, otherwise, I think there is, and people have said this to me as we moved across the country, there is a sense across the community that it's overdone. For the opening of parliament, fair enough, it's respectful to do, but for the start of every meeting at work, or the start of a football game, I think a lot of Australians think it's overdone and it cheapens the significance of what it was meant to do. It divides the country, not dissimilar to what the Prime Minister did with the Voice."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it's up to individual organisations whether they hold Welcome to Country ceremonies, saying he sees them as being about respect.
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At least 11 people have died in Vancouver, after a car drove into a crowd at a Filipino festival In Canada.
A 30-year-old man has been taken into custody.
The Filipino community had gathered to celebrate the Lapu Lapu Festival that honours their Indigenous leader Datu Lapu-Lapu, who fought against Spanish colonisation.
Mable Elmore is the first Filipino elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
She says the community is shattered by what's happened.
"Our community is grieving. I'm heartbroken. We're in incredible pain. The Filipino community will show true resilience. And we will come together out of this catastrophe. I also want to say that I encourage everyone who has been impacted. Please reach out. Talk to your friends and family."
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Canadians head to the polls today in an election that has been overshadowed by the fallout from U-S President Donald Trump's tariffs.
The election was called earlier than expected, after former leader of the governing Liberal Party, Justin Trudeau, stepped down as his popularity slumped.
Mr Trudeau was replaced by former banker Mark Carney, who helped his party gain a narrow lead over the conservative opposition after becoming PM.
Since then, the polls have tightened to become neck-and-neck, with Mr Carney campaigning on imposing tariffs in response to those imposed by Donald Trump.
"This is a time for serious leadership. It's time to come together and unite as a country because we need to fight, we need to protect, and we need build. We need to fight Trump's tariffs with counter-tariffs of our own that cause maximum damage in the United States with minimum impact here."
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Israel has struck the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital Beirut in the latest violation of a November ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah.
A huge plume of smoke rose above the city skyline as firefighting trucks and Lebanese soldiers were deployed to the site.
There was no immediate information on casualties.
The Israeli army says it struck the southern Beirut building because it believed it was being used to store precision missiles belonging to Hezbollah - but they have so far not provided evidence.
It is the third Israeli strike on Beirut since the late November ceasefire.
Local resident Hussein al-Mokdad says the situation has become intolerable.
"I'm here, 50 metres away from the strike, this is the second time that we leave home, with our children and family. It's something that has become unbearable."
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Australian surfer Isabella Nichols has claimed the biggest victory of her career, by downing young Brazilian star Luana Silva at the Bells Beach women's final.
The 27-year-old threw down the gauntlet with a big early score of 8.33 points and backed it up to win 16.26 points to 12.67.
After being named the winner, she told World Surfing League the victory felt unreal.
"The process for this win has honestly been a 15 year process for me, like I've been coming here since I was 15 years old and working with Robbo and Kale here, and it's just been like all the trips down here like three times a year I'd come down and work on my technique here and it's all paid off, and to have a Bell, like, this honestly does not feel real. I'm speechless."
