- Hannah Thomas begins legal action against state of NSW
- Tasmanian woman detained in Israel fed ‘stale bread and brown water only’, Greens senator says
- ‘We also need to talk about the day after’ Gaza hostage release: PM
- PM says Australians need to ‘turn down the temperature’ in politics after allegedly receiving a death threat
Hannah Thomas begins legal action against state of NSW
Daisy Dumas
Hannah Thomas’ legal team has begun court proceedings against the state of New South Wales.
O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors has filed the proceedings with the supreme court and said their client would be claiming damages for malicious prosecution, assault and battery by police officers and misfeasance in public office.
Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas in August. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
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Thomas was arrested after protesting outside SEC Plating in Belmore in June. The former Greens candidate underwent two rounds of surgery on her right eye after allegedly being injured by a police officer at the protest.
In September, she was awarded almost $22,000 in legal costs after prosecutors dropped charges against her.
Thomas’ solicitor, Peter O’Brien, said:
This case represents a deeply troubling example of what happens when the rule of law is set aside by those sworn to uphold it.
We are seeking redress not only for Ms Thomas’s individual suffering, including the ongoing injury to her right eye, but also to uphold the broader principle that police powers must never be abused.
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Updated at 03.25 CEST
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Tasmanian woman detained in Israel fed ‘stale bread and brown water only’, Greens senator says
Sarah Basford Canales
Over in Senate estimates, the Department of Foreign Affairs (Dfat) is answering questions about an Australian woman who remains detained in Israel after the ship she was on as part of the pro-Palestinian aid flotilla was intercepted.
The Greens senator, Nick McKim, said Tasmanian woman, Madeleine Habib, who captained the Conscience ship, was allegedly told by Israeli officials she would remain “indefinitely detained” unless she signed a waiver.
A sign calling for Madeleine Habib’s release seen at Sydney airport as supporters welcomed home Australian activists from the pro-Palestinian aid flotilla. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/EPA
McKim attempted to table email correspondence allegedly between Dfat officials and Habib’s husband, which contained “extremely disturbing” pieces of information about her detention in Israel’s Ketziot prison.
The email correspondence, which has not yet been approved for tabling, alleges Habib has been provided with “stale bread and brown water only”, McKim said.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said she was not able to comment on specific cases and noted that Dfat officials had said the email’s information was at least 12 hours old. Wong said:
Our expectation is that Israel ensures that humane treatment to any detainees is in line with international norms.
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Updated at 03.22 CEST
PM won’t give ‘running commentary’ on NACC chief
Finally, the PM is asked about revelations the chief of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Paul Brereton, has continued to advise the defence department on several occasions while in the role.
After the ABC uncovered the situation last week, officials confirmed during estimates that Brereton had briefed defence on 11 occasions since 1 July 2023.
Albanese refused to comment, saying the government followed through on its promise at the 2022 election to establish a NACC that was independent and worked “at arm’s length” from the government.
You won’t get a running commentary about the activity of an independent body, because that is the whole point of having an independent body without political interference.
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Updated at 03.11 CEST
PM pins high house prices on Coalition after Reserve Bank denies responsibility
After the Reserve Bank governor blamed high house prices on a supply shortfall at estimates this morning, Albanese is asked if the government is at fault.
“Yeah, over decades,” the PM said, pinning a lot of the responsibility on the former Coalition government for not building more housing, including social housing.
In estimates this morning, the Reserve Bank governor, Michele Bullock, was asked about housing affordability. Bullock has consistently called for more supply to ease housing pressures, but declined today to comment on how other government initiatives or policies might affect prices.
Albanese said:
Housing supply shortfalls are a result of neglect by governments. The former government didn’t bother to have a housing minister for half the time that they were in office. They built just over 300 houses the entire time they were there in terms of social housing.
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Updated at 03.07 CEST
David Pocock ban from the parliamentary sports club is ‘David Pocock being David Pocock’, says PM
Albanese is asked about the story by my colleague, Henry Belot, about ACT senator David Pocock’s ban from attending Parliament House’s social sports club after the former Wallabies star raised concerns about its sponsorship by the gambling industry.
Like a football, Albanese punts the question, and takes a dig at Pocock. (I’ll note here the government is still under serious pressure for not responding to a landmark gambling inquiry report by the late Peta Murphy, which was handed down more than two years ago.)
I would say David Pocock being David Pocock, getting himself in the story. This is an organisation that raises money for charity.
The amount of time I’ve spent on the Australian parliament sports club this year is zero.
Asked whether it was appropriate Albanese was the president of the sports club, he said:
Yes, as prime minister, it comes with the gig.
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Updated at 02.59 CEST
PM says ‘nothing unusual’ about receiving briefings on super bill
Anthony Albanese tries to pour cold water on revelations from estimates yesterday that the PM’s office has been taking an interest in the treasurer’s superannuation tax bill for accounts more than $3m.
He was asked a few times (in a few different ways) why the PM’s office would take a briefing on the bill. Albanese said it was a normal process.
He added that there would be no changes to the legislation (which still doesn’t have the support of the Coalition or Greens to pass through the Senate).
We received briefings on polices all the time … There is nothing unusual about that. That’s what occurs right across the full suite of policy issues.
Albanese declined to specify what concerns had been raised over the bill when answering a later question, saying that the government “makes no apologies” for engaging with people.
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Updated at 02.52 CEST
‘We also need to talk about the day after’ Gaza hostage release: PM
Asked if the federal government had received a request to send troops to Israel to support the ceasefire in Gaza as part of the peace plan, Albanese said Australia would continue to work with allies on such issues.
Albanese reiterated that the federal government “welcomes the breakthrough” in the conflict.
We also need to talk about the day after [the Israeli hostages are released], which requires a two-state solution. Australia has worked constructively with people.
President Trump deserves congratulations for the leadership the United States has shown.
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Updated at 02.53 CEST
PM says Australians need to ‘turn down the temperature’ in politics after allegedly receiving a death threat
Albanese is asked about a man charged with allegedly making death threats against him.
He said that as the matter was before the courts, he couldn’t comment on the specifics of the case. He added that generally speaking, Australia needed to “turn down the temperature” and increase mutual respect in political debates.
It’s something that I’ve tried to bring to political discourse in this country.
Issues that I face are far more acute than 10 years ago, five years ago. Certainly a lot more acute than [when] I was first elected … The role of social media, people being able to say things that they would never say to your face, is something I’ve spoken about regularly. There’s no place for violence.
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Updated at 02.35 CEST
PM announces $5m for Boggo Road renewable project upgrade
Albanese says the federal government will inject $5m to upgrade the Boggo Road precinct renewable project.
We are adding jobs and opportunities in Brisbane. This is part of our cities policy … [and] revitalising our cities and making a difference here in Brisbane.
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Updated at 02.26 CEST
PM touts government’s social housing agenda in Queensland
Anthony Albanese is speaking at a press conference in Brisbane.
The prime minister is spruiking the government’s $43bn housing agenda at a social housing site in the federal seat of Griffith.
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Updated at 02.24 CEST
