In this bulletin;
- Senator Fatima Payman apologises over comments about Iranian women;
- Opposition health minister slams increasing health insurance costs under the government;
- And in sport, the Matildas suffer another brutal loss in the SheBelieves Cup.
The opposition minister for Health says the government's approval of a 3.7% premium increase on health insurance is another cost of living hit for Australians.
Ann Ruston said it's the highest premium increase in seven years, adding the information should have come sooner so Australians could budget this increased cost.
Senator Ruston shut down queries around the Coalition's 9-year average premium increase of 4.2%, compared to Labor's 3 year average increase of 3.2%.
"Well what I would say is right now we have a cost of living crisis and a government that seems to be doing everything it can do to deflect away from its failures in the health sector, by talking about somehting that happened many years ago. But what we need to be focused on and what this government needs to be focused on is dealing with the cost of living crisis that's seriously impacting health and people's access to and affordability of health."
Meanwhile, Health Minister Mark Butler says the 3.7% premium increase was decided after rounds of negotiations with insurance companies, which he claimed originally wanted an over 6% increase.
"I have been determined to squeeze out the insurers, the best outcome in patients' interest. Obviously I need to maintain a viable private hospital sector, but my overarching objective has been to get the best possible deal for patience. I'm confident we have done that."
—
Former New South Wales Liberals MP Rory Amon will stand trial, after pleading not guilty over ten charges related to child sexual abuse.
The former member for Pittwater was charged over an alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old boy in Mona Vale in 2017 last August.
He left the New South Wales parliament following the allegations.
Following his resignation, a by-election for Pittwater was held last October, with the Liberals losing the seat to independent Jacqui Scruby.
—
Senator Fatima Payman has apologised for her comments around women's freedom in Iran at an event organised by the Benevolent Iranian Women's Association.
Ms Payman said she acknowledges the comments did not reflect the reality of women who have suffered violence and human rights abuses in Iran.
This comes as a prominent Iranian Australian organisation wrote to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, requesting an investigation into whether Senator Fatima Payman has been influenced by foreign agents.
The Australian Iranian Community Organisation in Sydney has asked Mr Burke to investigate Ms Payman's recent remarks on Iranian women, after Ms Payman accused the west of spreading propaganda about human rights in the country.
The organisation's president Siamak Ghahreman says Ms Payman's remarks have upset the community.
"We have a lot of Iranian women living in Australia who have been brutally treated in Iran, or have lost their female loved one in Iran, or they have been tortured, they have been investigated and all that, and they are actually not happy about this whitewashing of the Iranian government."
Ms Payman told SBS News that she rejects the allegation of being influenced by foreign agents.
—
New Zealand's foreign MInister Winston Peters says the short notice from China about their recent live-fire drills shows "a failure" in the two countries' relationship.
Mr Peters also discusses the concerns about a comprehensive partnership deal between the Cook Islands and China.
New Zealand has previously criticised the lack of transparency and formal consultation from both China and the Cook Islands before the deal was signed.
“Indeed, it is a sign of healthy relationships is that we can and do exist with disagreement on important issues. For New Zealand, you will be well aware of our ambition for the Pacific region to be peaceful, prosperous and focused on Pacific-led institutions."
China's foreign minister Wang Yi says China respects the traditional relations between New Zealand and the Pacific island countries.
—
And in football,
The Matildas' SheBelieves Cup campaign has ended on a frustrating low note, as Australia lost 2-1 to Colombia to finish last in the invitational tournament.
Ellie Carpenter, who played 90 minutes in the first two games, was substituted with an apparent quad issue late in the first half.
The same day Football Australia celebrated a year to go until the Asian Cup on home soil, the Matildas slumped to their third defeat in a week.
This defeat followed a 2-1 loss to the United States and 4-0 thumping at the hands of Japan - in a tournament meant to be ideal preparation for the Asian Cup.
