Higher education chiefs, academics and students to give evidence at latest block of hearings at royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion. Follow today’s news live
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1h agoDfat checking whether Australians caught in deadly blaze at Bangkok pub
1h agoDigital passenger cards will be ‘much more efficient way’ to run the border, Burke says
2h agoShadow education minister labels university leaders ‘weak and spineless’ over antisemitism
2h agoRichard Scolyer to be honoured in state memorial service at Sydney Opera House
Julian Leeser, the shadow minister for education, said the time for universities “mucking around” on definitions of antisemitism were over.
Leeser spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying:
Universities are the place where the next generation of leaders goes to be formed. And the fact that our vice-chancellors are so weak and spineless that they haven’t been able to crack down on this shows how much we need this definition adopted … I think this week at the royal commission, this is the week where the vice-chancellors have to own up for their failures here, for their failures in allowing those encampments to persist and saying that that’s just the price Jews have to pay for free speech … for failing to provide a safe environment for Jewish staff and Jewish students, and allowing a culture of fear to take place.
Universities are the place where the next generation of leaders goes to be formed. And the fact that our vice-chancellors are so weak and spineless that they haven’t been able to crack down on this shows how much we need this definition adopted …
I think this week at the royal commission, this is the week where the vice-chancellors have to own up for their failures here, for their failures in allowing those encampments to persist and saying that that’s just the price Jews have to pay for free speech … for failing to provide a safe environment for Jewish staff and Jewish students, and allowing a culture of fear to take place.
Australia’s ‘unfair’ visa price hikes
The federal government has been accused of exploiting international students and permanent residents after non-refundable visa fees were quietly hiked by up to 200%, placing Australia well in excess of other western countries.
The peak body representing international students has warned prospective students to consider studying elsewhere, while critics affected by the scheme have accused Labor of trying to “out One Nation, One Nation”.
Here’s what you need to know.
Support for Hanson’s One Nation slips in new poll
Pauline Hanson and One Nation’s popularity have slipped since her controversial Press Club speech with support shifting to the Coalition, according to new polling.
AAP reports support for One Nation fell by three points in July to 26%, while the coalition’s backing rose to 23%, in a Resolve Political Monitor survey released on Sunday night.
Labor remained at 28%, and support for the Greens was also unchanged at 12%.
Anthony Albanese made a comeback as preferred prime minister with 33% nominating him, up from 29% in June, with Angus Taylor sitting on 21%, two points higher than previously.
Nearly 55% of homes sold at auction over the last week
Cotality reports preliminary data shows just under 55% of homes sold at auction over the last week, a decent rise after multiple weeks where that figure hovered below 50%.
In Sydney, 57.5% of homes sold at auction; in Melbourne, 56.2%; and in Adelaide 59.1%. Figures were still low in Brisbane (43%) and other capital cities, although there were far were auctions.
83 homes were withdrawn from auction in Sydney and 65 in Melbourne, the country’s two largest markets.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) is investigating if any Australians were affected by a deadly fire at a pub in Bangkok overnight. At least 27 people were killed in the blaze and dozens more injured.
Australians will be shocked to hear of the terrible loss of life in the restaurant fire in Bangkok. Our sincere condolences are with all those affected. Australian officials are making urgent enquiries with local authorities to determine whether any Australians were affected. We stand ready to provide consular assistance.
Australians will be shocked to hear of the terrible loss of life in the restaurant fire in Bangkok. Our sincere condolences are with all those affected.
Australian officials are making urgent enquiries with local authorities to determine whether any Australians were affected. We stand ready to provide consular assistance.
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said the end of the physical passenger cards and a transition to digital forms would be a “much more efficient way” to run the border.
He told RN this morning:
At the end of a long flight, people might not be at their best, and nobody knows … the full address off the top of their head of the hotel they’re staying at, or remembers the phone number of their next of kin.
What actually happens to all those paper cards? They are used sometimes:
From a home affairs perspective, there are times when we need to go back to those cards for information. And at the moment, you’re going through warehouses trying to find the right box that’s got the right set of cards to be able to then decipher someone’s handwriting.
From a home affairs perspective, there are times when we need to go back to those cards for information.
And at the moment, you’re going through warehouses trying to find the right box that’s got the right set of cards to be able to then decipher someone’s handwriting.
Great news for travellers: Australia to ditch paper arrival cards for incoming travellers
The days of filling out paper arrival cards are to end for millions of travellers arriving in Australia on international flights.
The Albanese government has announced it will roll out digital passenger cards to all Australian international airports and seaports after a “successful” trial on Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
The paper forms, which ask passengers arriving in Australia for personal information and to declare any food, plant or animal products, have long been an annoyance for travellers arriving on long-haul flights.
