TRANSCRIPT
- Families who fled the war in Gaza to live in Australia react to Donald Trump's proposal to takeover the enclave
- Sydney mayors call for extra security and measures to fight racism, as part of the response to antisemitic attacks
- And in sports, Australian freestyle skier Jakara Anthony on track for her Winter Olympic title defence
The suggestion by US President Donald Trump to take control over the Gaza Strip has left Palestinians in Australia shocked and appalled.
There has been international condemnation of the proposal, with Russia, China and Germany saying it would lead to new suffering and new hatred.
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, has warned against any form of ethnic cleansing, as UN officials say the forcible deportation of people from occupied territory is strictly prohibited under international law.
The White House has issued a clarification, saying earlier remarks on permanent relocation should have only referenced temporary relocation while Gaza is being rebuilt.
Now in Australia, Karam Alakklouk left Gaza just five days before the Rafah Crossing closed in May last year.
He told SBS, he finds Mr Trump's comments hurtful.
"It's our memories. It is our memory with the soil of that land. And to neglect all that - that is something we couldn't even in process until this moment that I am talking with you. That someone else with no relation to that land, with no relation to the Palestinian people. And he will be deciding our future on our behalf."
At least 20 mayors in Sydney have held a roundtable meeting to launch a plan for social cohesion, amid a rise in hate crimes investigated by police.
The local councils in Sydney's eastern suburbs are carrying out risk assessments to boost security and deter hate crimes that have targeted members of the Jewish community.
A range of topics were discussed at the meeting, including plans for CCTV cameras at places of interest; and extra security at places of high risk, including schools, synagogues, and mosques.
The mayor for Waverley, William Namesh, says seeing local leaders come together sends a unifying message.
"We call on the New South Wales and federal governments to take urgent action by recognising local government as vital tier of government in creating and maintaining social cohesion. Partnering with councils to combat the scourge of antisemitism. And protect all communities from vilification and intimidation and violence - investing in multicultural interfaith programs to strengthen understanding and unity between communities. Enhancing legislation to combat hate crimes and discrimination."
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Education Minister Jason Clare has introduced legislation into Parliament for a national code to govern student safety in higher education.
The bill would create a framework for the first time of standards that universities must meet to combat gender-based violence.
The Minister says the standards would be enforced by a specialist unit within the Department of Education, which will have the power to enforce financial penalties should those standards not be met.
He has told Parliament the national code is the critical next step in implementing an action plan agreed to by all Education Ministers last year.
"For too long students have been let down by their universities and inaction by previous governments. Advocates have been ignored - and they shouldn't have been. The evidence is overwhelming: one in 20 university students report being sexually assaulted on campus. One in 6 report being sexually harassed, and one in two report that they felt they weren't being heard when they made a complaint. That's why I acted; that's why this government has acted."
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In sports, Australian freestyle skier Jakara Anthony says while her preparation for the Winter Olympics hasn't been ideal she will be primed to defend her title in a year's time.
Dual Olympian Anthony will spearhead the Australian team in Italy next February, when they will look to top a record haul of four medals won in Beijing in 2022.
The 25-year-old Victorian had surgery on a broken collarbone after a training fall in Sweden in December, ruling her out of World Cup competition which she dominated in 2023-24.
While there is no firm timeline in place for her return to competition, Anthony says she will be back to her best as she looks to win a second Olympic crown.
"Time has just flown by. It has already been three years on from Beijing. One year left to go. There is still a lot of work we want to get done. But things are really starting to ramp up now. So it is going to be exciting to see what else we can achieve. The shoulder is going well. Rehab is progressing really well. So get back on snow some time soon and make the most of the last year to go."
Her Beijing triumph was the first Australian gold medal since 2010 and the first medal won by a female moguls skier.
