TRANSCRIPT
- The federal government supports minimum jail sentences for hate speech crimes
- The White House defends Donald Trump's Gaza takeover proposal, but clarifies some elements after a backlash
- Jordan Mailata hoping to become the first Australian to win a SuperBowl ring
The White House has strongly defended Donald Trump's proposal to transfer Palestinians out of Gaza and have the US take over the war-ruined enclave.
Some experts say the proposed actions could violate international law. Others say the idea is unworkable. Human rights advocates say it would amount to ethnic cleansing.
Russia, China and Germany have also joined international condemnation of the plan, saying it would lead to new suffering and new hatred.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed Mr Trump's proposal as "outside of the box" thinking, but backed away from the element of the plan urging permanent relocation of Gazans to neighbouring countries.
"The president has made it clear that they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza for the rebuilding of this effort. Again, it's a demolition site right now. It's not a livable place for any human being. And I think it's actually quite evil to suggest that people should live in such dire conditions."
---
Labor has confirmed it will support mandatory minimum sentencing for hate crimes, despite historically opposing the practice.
Labor's official party platform does not back minimum sentencing, arguing it does not reduce crime, undermines the judicial system, leads to unjust outcomes, and is often discriminatory in practice.
But the government says it has agreed to support Coalition amendments that will impose minimum sentences between one and six years for the display of hate symbols and terror crimes.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told Sky News he wanted cooperation across the Parliament on the laws.
"We want people to be held to account. So we are supporting having people held to account. There'll be a review of that through the Joint Parliamentary Committee. We've worked through these issues."
---
Singapore has loaned Australia two Chinook helicopters as north Queensland communities face the impact of heavy rain and widespread flooding.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the two helicopters were already in Townsville for training exercises, and have been made available to assist Australian Defence Force personnel and helicopters involved in flood relief.
The helicopters have been tasked with airlifting supplies to communities that are low on food and other essential items because of the flooding has damaged or cut off transport links and other infrastructure.
Personnel from the military base at Townsville are part of those efforts.
---
A Northern Territory MP is calling for a parliamentary inquiry into nearly $60 million of government funds that have been lost through a flawed Indigenous Employment program.
The scheme was shut down in 2017 over allegations of widespread fraud.
It had originally been designed to encourage companies to hire Aboriginal employees, but saw millions of taxpayer dollars obtained by more than a hundred Territory contractors.
Independent MP Justine Davis has told NITV News that so far only $900,000 has been recovered and two small-time contractors jailed - but more needs to be done to hold big businesses accountable.
"We heard the (NT) Treasurer say that it was disappointing to see that this had happened and this money hadn't been recovered. He doesn't have to be disappointed. He can do something about it - and that's what I'd like to see happen."
---
Major telcos insist their mobile coverage has either expanded or stayed the same since the 3G network shutdown, despite rural Australians reporting poor service or total black outs.
Grain producers are among those Australians outside of metropolitan areas who have reported poor mobile service and coverage blackspots since Telstra and Optus began switching off the ageing network in October.
GrainGrowers' rural affairs manager Sean Cole has told a Senate inquiry in Canberra that this potentially has dire implications for farm worker safety and natural disaster response, particularly in relation to fire.
But Optus executive Harvey Wright says less than one per cent of customer complaints to the telco since September 2024 have related to 3G.
---
To sport, Jordan Mailata is again trying to become the first Australian to win a SuperBowl ring, as his team the Philadelphia Eagles prepare for a SuperBowl showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles narrowly missed out in victory two years ago, losing 38-35 to the Chiefs in that game.
But Mr Mailata says he is convinced history will not repeat itself.
And he says he's proud to be part of the big day.
"It's an honour to represent the Polynesian people. Not only do I represent Samoa - Australia - but being married to my Tongan wife, I kind of feel like I have a responsibility to every other Polynesian nation."
And that's the latest from the SBS newsroom.
