Australian news and politics live: Chalmers says Australia’s Palestinian recognition is about peace, not Hamas

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Israel’s Foreign Minister has sent a strong message to the Australian government stating that Hamas are loving Anthony Albanese’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.

Gideon Sa’ar posted a screen grab of the Sydney Morning Herald’s story stating the listed terrorist group have applauded the decision, as they argue their October 7 attacks on Israel have been vindicated by Western governments.

Mr Sa’ar added a one line comment to the post saying - Hamas, a loveheart emoji and Anthony Albanese’s X handle.

The Australian Jewish Council added: “Israel’s Foreign Minister is correct.

“The Australian Government has earned the support of terrorists around the world.”

Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin, has spoken of his lack of faith in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s understanding of the situation in Gaza and Hamas’s strategy.

“The Prime Minister framed the recognition of Palestine as a defeat for Hamas because of its violent opposition to a two-state solution and desire to replace Israel with a Palestinian state from the river to the sea,” Mr Ryvchin posted on X on Wednesday.

“He is right about Hamas’s intentions but wrong about how they see the struggle. They’re playing the long game. They view the recognition of a Palestinian state alongside Israel as a leap towards eventual conquest and slaughter of the Jews.

“This is why they praise our Prime Minister. They feel like October 7 has worked perfectly and now brought them a step closer to total victory.

“Western governments have unwittingly signalled that spectacular acts of violence bring desired political outcomes. In other words, terrorism works because we let it,” Mr Ryvchin concluded.

An early educator continued working in the childcare sector for years despite a major provider substantiating grooming allegations.

The Victorian government is moving to cancel the man’s working with children check after details of his employment history emerged on Wednesday.

Goodstart Early Learning reported allegations to Victorian authorities in August 2020 that the worker had acted inappropriately towards children at one of its centres in the Geelong area.

Police decided the claims didn’t meet the criminal threshold but an internal investigation substantiated that he groomed and kissed toddlers, leading to his sacking in September 2020.

His working with children check was referred for review but remained valid, although he was issued a prohibition notice in 2024 after a separate, unsubstantiated allegation in 2023.

Read the full story here.

Anthony Albanese has always liked politics with the complexity of a T-shirt slogan says The Nightly’s Cameron Milner in his latest column.

Last term, it was Yes to the Voice. This term, it looks like it’s going to be Yes to Hamas.

The message will, of course, be delivered with lots of lefty sanctimony and derision for anyone who dares oppose him. The Prime Minister loves claiming the moral high ground even as he sinks in political wet sand.

I’m surprised he hasn’t yet mouthed the words: “It’s only a modest request for Palestinian statehood”.

Read Cameron Milner’s full story here.

When asked if the Coalition supports a four day work week to increase productivity, Sussan Ley scoffed at the headlines and said the government were playing games.

“I’ve heard these reports. It sounds like the usual stitch-up from the unions, putting out an ambit claim so that the government can play a little game, “ Ms Ley said.

“All of things are in workplace relationship organistion laws as it is right now. I just put it down to a bit of game playing.”

Sussan Ley says Hamas’s positive approval of Anthony Albanese’s Palestinian recognition annoucement is a sign to the nation he needs to reverse the decision.

“The Prime Minister’s eating ice creams in Queensland, making jokes, meanwhile a listed terrorist organisation is cheering on his foreign policy. I think that tells all Australan’s it really is time for him to rethink this urgently,” Ms Ley said in South Australia.

Sussan Ley says the PM and the Labor government needs to ensure their focus is primarily on domestic issues amid the Palestinian recognition debate, as she visisted regions affected by the toxic algal bloom issues in South Australia.

“I have been to the York Peninsula for a visit with the small businesses and community members because we care about regional communities,” Ms Ley said speaking at an oceanside press conference on Wednesday.

“I am so disappointed in the Albanese government. When I heard Murray Watt this morning say that he was coming along, well where is he?

“This a a natural disaster, a national disaster and Murray Watt needs to talk to the communities that are hurting so badly and are counting on this government to help them,” Ms Ley said.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said a listed terrorist organisation “cheering on” the Albanese Government proved to Australians the PM had “got it wrong” on Palestinian recognition.

“He used his interpretation of Hamas’s position as justification for making a decision that is clearly turned completely upside down today with the Hamas co-founder, praising our prime minister,” she told reporters in South Australia on Wednesday.

“Prime Minister, if you’ve got a listed terrorist organisation cheering on your foreign policy, it might be time to admit that you got it wrong.”

She reaffirmed Coalition’s pledge to revoke the recognition if elected at the next Federal poll.

“The endorsement of his decision by a listed terrorist organisation is exactly the reason the coalition has opposed it and would revoke it in government,” Ms Ley added.

Israel’s embassy in Canberra has accused the Albanese Government of downplaying the ongoing hostage crisis in the wake of its commitment to recognise the state of Palestine.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the embassy said there had been a lack of urgency to address Israelis still being held by Hamas since the October 7 attacks.

“While we share the concern for the humanitarian suffering in Gaza, it is deeply troubling that the plight of Israeli hostages, men and women, held by the Hamas terror organisation is reduced to a single line at the bottom of the statement,” it stated.

“These innocent civilians are starving in underground tunnels, some forced to dig their own graves for propaganda videos.

“We have yet to hear the Australian Government speak with the same urgency about their humanitarian situation.

“Pressure must be placed squarely on Hamas to release them immediately, as their continued captivity is a grave violation of international law and basic human decency.”