Assistant multicultural affairs minister ‘appalled’ by Tony Abbott’s anti-immigration video – as it happened

Assistant multicultural affairs minister ‘appalled’ by Tony Abbott’s anti-immigration videoThe assistant minister for multicultural affairs has condemned a new anti-immigration video released by current federal president of the Liberal party and former prime minister Tony Abbott, in which he declares “multiculturalism in Australia has failed”. In the video, shared on X by former deputy prime minister John Anderson, Abbott targets Muslim communities and argues that “diversity is not our strength”.Speaking to ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, the assistant minister, Julian Hill, described a snippet of the video played during the program as “disgusting” and “demeaning to nearly 1 million Australians”. double quotation markWe have religious freedom in this country, people are free to worship in the way that they want or worship no God. The fact is, the Liberal party today can’t distance themselves from this bloke, from these Neanderthal, offensive views. They made him their president. That was a choice they made and it happened only a few months ago. Former prime minister Tony Abbott. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPKey events15h agoAssistant multicultural affairs minister ‘appalled’ by Tony Abbott’s anti-immigration video15h agoEd Husic calls for ‘sense of urgency’ and warns AI laws can’t wait until 202716h agoClosure of church-turned-arts venue a ‘step backwards’, NSW arts minister says17h agoTelstra chief to front Senate inquiry tomorrow18h agoSam Neill’s cause of death revealed to be pneumonia18h agoVictoria’s police commissioner arrests man in Melbourne CBD19h agoNew H5 bird flu case in Australia, as deadly disease arrives in New Zealand19h agoDiesel over $2 a litre as Iran war lifts oil prices20h agoAFP releases image of clothing and appeals for information in child abuse case22h agoDozens of civil society groups sign statement expressing ‘grave concern’ at universities restricting protests and political speech22h agoMan arrested after body found in Sydney’s west, following house fire23h agoBHP workers to take historic strike action in the Pilbara24h agoBarnaby Joyce defends Pauline Hanson’s meeting with Tommy Robinson1d agoGovernment flags tougher anti- modern slavery penalties following US tariffs1d agoJosh Thomas weighs in on Divine Playhouse debate1d agoWelcomeWhat we learned today, Thursday 16 JulyThat’s all for today – we’ll leave our live coverage there.Before we go, let’s recap today’s top headlines: The Telstra chief executive, Vicki Brady, and the chief financial officer, Michael Ackland, are among a number of executives scheduled to appear before the Senate inquiry into triple zero in relation to last week’s outage. One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce defended Pauline Hanson’s decision to meet with far-right activist Tommy Robinson in the United Kingdom. Victoria’s chief police commissioner, Mike Bush, personally arrested a man in Melbourne’s CBD on Wednesday morning. More than 40 civil society groups across Australia are calling on universities to protect the right to peaceful protest and academic freedom on campuses as vice-chancellors appear at the royal commission into antisemitism. The Australian federal police released images of distinctive clothing items as part of an ongoing investigation into child abuse and is seeking any information the community might have about them. Fuel prices are racing upwards after a week of resumed US strikes on Iran. There have now been 15 detections of deadly H5 bird flu in wild birds in Australia since the first was confirmed in late June. The NSW arts minister, John Graham, spoke out after a queer-inclusive pop-up based in a deconsecrated church was forced to close after protests from religious groups. Thanks for joining us – see you again first thing tomorrow.Assistant multicultural affairs minister ‘appalled’ by Tony Abbott’s anti-immigration videoThe assistant minister for multicultural affairs has condemned a new anti-immigration video released by current federal president of the Liberal party and former prime minister Tony Abbott, in which he declares “multiculturalism in Australia has failed”. In the video, shared on X by former deputy prime minister John Anderson, Abbott targets Muslim communities and argues that “diversity is not our strength”.Speaking to ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, the assistant minister, Julian Hill, described a snippet of the video played during the program as “disgusting” and “demeaning to nearly 1 million Australians”. double quotation markWe have religious freedom in this country, people are free to worship in the way that they want or worship no God. The fact is, the Liberal party today can’t distance themselves from this bloke, from these Neanderthal, offensive views. They made him their president. That was a choice they made and it happened only a few months ago. Former prime minister Tony Abbott. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPWA premier urges compromise as historic BHP strike loomsThe WA premier has pleaded for compromise as the clock runs down until the world’s largest bulk iron ore export operation is hit by industrial action for the first time in decades.More than half of the 450 workers at BHP’s bulk export terminal in Western Australia’s Port Hedland are expected to walk off the job for eight hours on Thursday afternoon.Premier Roger Cook conceded the action was concerning and called for the mining giant and unions to return to the bargaining table. he said: double quotation markI don’t believe it will be a common occurrence. I’m encouraging all parties to continue to negotiate and come to a good outcome. – AAPEd Husic calls for ‘sense of urgency’ and warns AI laws can’t wait until 2027The Labor MP Ed Husic has called for the federal government to demonstrate “a sense of urgency” when it comes to its recently announced creation of a new Office of AI.Husic, who has long advocated for a more interventionist approach to AI policy, said he has “been frustrated for a while”.Speaking to ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Husic expressed concern that waiting until early 2027 for legislation may be too long. double quotation markI think that is a big issue, the speed at which technology develops and the glacial pace at which governments respond. It’s almost like we deal with dangerous strawberries quicker than we do with the dangers of AI. We move so quickly on some things and not on stuff like this. So I do think we have to have a sense of urgency about dealing with it. Ed Husic says ‘we deal with dangerous strawberries quicker than we do the danger of AI’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPRead more here:Closure of church-turned-arts venue a ‘step backwards’, NSW arts minister saysKat WongThe NSW arts minister, John Graham, has spoken out after a queer-inclusive pop-up based in a deconsecrated church was forced to close following protests from religious groups. double quotation markThe Divine Playhouse closing its doors is a step backwards for Sydney. NSW is a tolerant and inclusive state, but that requires us to maintain mutual respect of each other’s views, even when we disagree. I support peaceful prayer and the right to protest, but I also expect that protesters will respect the rights of the LGBTQI community to express themselves and enjoy safe spaces. The landlords of Divine Playhouse ordered the venue’s organisers to stop engaging in “offensive trade” after protesters gathered outside the space on its opening night and demanded the government withdraw a $100,000 grant Divine Playhouse received from the state’s arts agency, Create NSW.On Monday, NSW premier, Chris Minns, struck a different tone, saying it was “hard to believe that this is the best location for that kind of event” and claiming the content of Divine Playhouse’s grant application differed from the final result.But the Labor backbencher Stephen Lawrence backed the venue’s funding. double quotation markArts funding should not be contingent on not offending people. I will always defend religious rights and freedoms ... but what we have seen in respect of Divine Playhouse is a censorious mentality that should not be pandered to.” Sarah Basford CanalesOne Nation senator accuses media of ‘selective cherry picking’ when reporting on his support for conspiracy theoriesOne Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has hit back at recent reporting on resurfaced comments supportive of conspiracy theories, describing the reports as “selective cherry picking and dishonest distortions”.Roberts, One Nation’s longest-serving senator outside of leader Pauline Hanson, has praised US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones as a “beacon of hope around the world” and lauded Russian president Vladimir Putin following his invasion of Ukraine among other contentious topics in recent years.The Queensland senator has also long challenged global warming science and rallied against Covid-19 vaccinations.On social media on Thursday afternoon, Roberts wrote: double quotation markFirst they came for Pauline. Then they came for Barnaby. Now it’s my turn. Selective cherry picking and dishonest distortions by mainstream media to mislead Australians on behalf of their uniparty mates. One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts. Photograph: Brian Cassey/AAPLisa CoxHunter Valley coalmine extension projected to generate 800m tonnes of emissionsThe projected emissions from extending coalmining at Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) are about 800m tonnes over its life – 98% of those from when the coal is sold and burnt overseas.Glencore’s Sandy Tickell told the NSW Independent Planning Commission on Thursday “we recognise that greenhouse gas emissions are a key issue for this project”. She said the joint venture had “carefully considered feedback from regulators and independent experts, and made comprehensive changes to the project to reduce emissions”.This included changing the mine design and planning a trial to pre-drain methane from the southern area of the extension before mining to reduce on-site emissions, Tickell said.HVO presented a graph showing its efforts to reduce emissions at the mine site could rely heavily on carbon offsets.Climate groups argued the project was inconsistent with NSW’s net zero legislation and overreliant on offsets. Late last year, the state’s Net Zero Commission warned the state could no longer approve coalmine expansions because they were incompatible with the state’s legislated emissions targets.The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility told the panel “the project’s emissions estimates are likely significantly understated and cannot be sufficiently mitigated” and that the emissions the project would generate were “consistent with more than two degrees of warming”.The centre also challenged HVO’s economic modelling. Analyst Pranav Dayal argued the proposed mine extension’s net economic benefits were “reduced by approximately 40%” when the costs of emissions were applied to the project, using guidance developed by the New South Wales Treasury.Grieving father backs testing tool for invisible killerA father who lost his daughter to methanol poisoning says he wants groundbreaking technology that traces tiny amounts of toxic chemicals through unopened bottles “in as many hands as possible”.Researchers from Adelaide University and St Andrews University in Scotland spent more than a decade developing a trio of laser techniques that can successfully trace concentrations of methanol about 10 times lower than internationally recognised safety limits.Methanol is a tasteless, odourless chemical commonly used in household cleaning products that becomes highly poisonous when digested by the human body.Australian teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles died in a mass poisoning event after drinking tainted alcohol at a Laos hostel in November 2024.Bianca’s father, Mark Jones, encouraged the government and private enterprises to back the technological breakthrough. He told AAP: double quotation markWhen Bianca went away on the trip of a lifetime, we knew nothing about methanol. I would just like to have these devices in as many people’s hands as possible so what has happened to my beautiful girl and Holly happens to no one else moving forward. Mark Jones, whose daughter Bianca (pictured in frame) died after inadvertently drinking alcohol laced with lethal methanol in Laos. Photograph: Charlie Kinross/The GuardianTelstra chief to front Senate inquiry tomorrowJosh TaylorThe Telstra chief executive, Vicki Brady, and the chief financial officer, Michael Ackland, are among a number of executives scheduled to appear before the Senate inquiry into triple zero in relation to last week’s outage.The company had confirmed on Saturday it would be appearing before the committee, but the committee only published the program of the hearing – and who exactly would appear – this afternoon.Also appearing will be the executive responsible for triple-zero services, Jane Elkington; the company’s executive responsible for end-to-end service performance, Gerard Tracey; legal executive Bill Gallagher; and head of government relations, Lanai Scarr.The Australian Communications and Media Authority and the communications department will also give evidence, with the hearing due to commence at 12pm AEST tomorrow.The chair of the committee, Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young, said earlier this week the committee will investigate whether the outage was caused by Telstra’s failure to replace a piece of equipment that should have been replaced years ago, and will be about “getting to the truth” of last Wednesday’s national outage.Read more here:Lisa CoxHunter Valley coalmine extension continuedMany of the arguments for and against the proposed Hunter Valley Operations continuation project are split between community members eager to see continued employment and local economic benefits and those concerned about increasing climate harm, air pollution and other damage driven by fossil fuels.Jeanette Hunter, a Newcastle resident, said the expansion would affect “everyone, no matter where they live” as the climate harms caused by fossil fuels “are already being increasingly felt in real time”. Hunter spoke about caring for her mother until her death last year. She said: double quotation markThe frequent poor air quality in Newcastle, which is at least partly attributable to the coal industry and the port that services it, also triggered her asthma and made it harder to keep her comfortable when she was seriously unwell. Fiona Lee, a former Newcastle resident who now lives on the mid north coast spoke about losing her home in the 2019 black summer fires and urged the IPC to reject the project. Since black summer her community had been hit by floods, with the council having to apply for disaster funding “sixteen times in just the six years since black summer”: double quotation markThese disasters are happening to my community more often because of climate change, driven by the mining and burning of fossil fuels, including coal that’s being dug up and shipped out of the Hunter. Glencore and Yancoal continue to post huge profits while they’re fueling extreme weather events like bushfires and floods, which are costing ordinary people like me and my family everything, but they are paying none of the price. Community member Geoff Stevenson said the threat of closure of the HVO mine “creates a lot of uncertainty and anxiety amongst the local community” and asked the panel to “consider the local residents like myself, who rely on this approval of this continuation application, working families who are trying to raise their kids and just trying to keep a roof over our heads”.Thanks for staying with today’s live blog. I’m handing over the reins to Guardian Australia’s Achol Arok, who will keep you up-to-date throughout the afternoon.Lisa CoxPublic hearings commence on Hunter Valley Operations coalmine extensionPublic hearings examining the largest coal project proposed in New South Wales have commenced in the Hunter, with critics of the massive Hunter Valley Operations extension warning the project will worsen climate impacts for communities already hit by climate-driven fires and floods.Yancoal and Glencore are seeking approval for the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) Continuation project near Singleton in the Hunter Valley. The project would extend open-cut mining at the site by 19 years to 2045 and mine an additional 430m tonnes of coal.The coalmine would be the largest ever proposed in NSW based on the amount of coal produced.HVO project manager David Foster told the NSW Independent Planning Commission on Thursday morning he was speaking “on behalf of our 1,500 strong workforce and our local community as a fourth-generation Hunter Valley coalminer and a Singleton resident for more than 40 years”: double quotation markI’ve seen first-hand the prosperity mining has afforded our region, and the benefits and the rural impacts it can bring to people who live near operations. Public hearings are part of the process the Independent Planning Commission uses to help it decide whether or not a development can proceed. Three days of hearings are scheduled, indicating there is a lot of interest in this project.Angus Taylor meets Dave HughesOpposition leader Angus Taylor has posted a photo of himself in a Melbourne cafe with Dave Hughes, on social media. double quotation markJust trying to enjoy one of Melbourne’s famous coffees and this guy won’t stop talking to me about Labor’s toxic taxes. Allow Instagram content?This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'.Hughes has recently been drawing attention online for his social media posts critical of Labor federal and Victorian governments.Josh TaylorPrivacy commissioner ends inquiries over Qantas data breachThe federal privacy commissioner, Carly Kind, has concluded, from preliminary inquiries into the 2025 Qantas data breach of 5m Australians’ personal information, that there were no omissions or failings by Qantas to protect this data in compliance with the Privacy Act.Customer names, email addresses and frequent flyer numbers were among the data leaked on the dark web, after a hacker collective called Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters targeted the airline last year.After almost a year of inquiries, Kind said there were no revelations based on the information provided from Qantas that the airline had made any omissions or failings to protect the personal information it held, or ensure the third-party contact centre provider it uses complied with privacy law.Kind said: double quotation markWhile I recognise the serious implications of data breaches such as this one on the lives of the Australian community, in this instance I do not consider that the evidence supports the likelihood that a breach of privacy law occurred. As a result, it would not be appropriate for the [Office of the Australian Information Commissioner] – a proportionate and risk-based regulator – to commence a full investigation or take further action at this stage. The report details that the hackers contacted an agent at the contact centre over the phone posing as “Qantas IT help”. The agent was directed to a customer relationship platform used by Qantas and ultimately was directed through actions that resulted in the customer relationship management (CRM) platform being connected to a data extraction tool, which was used to extract customer profiles on the platform. Kind found Qantas undertook audits with the contact centre before the hack, including onsite assessments, and had mandatory training programs on cyber awareness.The vulnerability arose from a default configuration in the CRM software that allowed the agent to authorise the connection of a third-party application, but this has since been changed by the CRM software provider for all its customers.Sam Neill’s cause of death revealed to be pneumoniaSian CainSam Neill’s cause of death was pneumonia, his longtime representative has revealed.The 78-year-old actor’s “sudden and unexpected” death was announced on Monday, just three months after Neill revealed he was finally cancer-free since being diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in 2022.After years of chemotherapy, Neill took part in a successful clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy, a form of cancer immunotherapy that is particularly successful in treating certain types of blood cancers.On Thursday, Neill’s representative, Philip Grenz, said he was revealing Neill’s cause of death after speaking with the actor’s family, due to “inaccuracies and outright falsehoods” in media reporting.Read more: