TRANSCRIPT
- Coalition's nuclear energy plan criticised for lack of detail
- Federal MP Josh Burns issues a plea for respectful debate, after his Melbourne office is vandalised
- Alex de Minaur suffers a shock loss at Queen's
Australian homes could be powered by nuclear energy by 2035 at the earliest under the coalition's election plan.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has unveiled details of his nuclear energy policy, which will put nuclear power plants in Australia's former fossil fuel heartlands if the coalition wins the federal election.
He says a coalition government would build seven plants at existing coal-fired power stations, with the assets to be owned by the federal government.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen says it derails progress to net zero emissions - and the absence of information on the cost of the plan is telling.
"It's not really an announcement. We know that Mr Dutton wants to slow down the rollout of the renewables. And he wants to introduce the most expensive form of energy that is slow to build. But today we've seen no cost. We've seen no gigawatts. We've seen no detail. This is a joke. It is a serious joke because it threatens our transition."
The Minerals Council of Australia has welcomed the Coalition's policy, saying it "provides a crucial pathway for Australia’s industries to reduce emissions cost-effectively while maintaining access to reliable baseload power".
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Labor MP Josh Burns has issued a plea for an end to what he's described as the "political aggression" that led to his Melbourne office being vandalised with graffiti, fire and broken windows.
The attackers smashed the front windows and entered the office, the inside of which was sprayed with red paint with slogans that read, 'Zionism is fascism'.
Two small fires were lit, one near the office entrance and another outside the street-facing door to apartments on the floor above the office.
Mr Burns, who is Jewish, condemned what he called a "politically motivated" attack amid the Gaza conflict.
He says it is "ugly behaviour" that is not constructive - and people should be allowed to feel safe in Australia.
"The Australia that I grew up in was a Australia was multiculturalism where the Jewish community could express themselves, could proudly walk down the street - not thinking about where they were. But just participating in Australian life. Now you have got Jewish community members who think about how they present themselves in public. Do they wear a yarmulke (a brimless cap; pronounced "yah-mook-kah"). Do they wear items that are visibly showing that their Jewish? Do they go to university? That is a really terrible thing for Australians to be experiencing."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned the attack, calling for tensions to be "dialled down".
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The Refugee Council of Australia says this year's theme for Refugee Week underlines the continuing challenges facing refugees globally, including those in Australia.
The United Nations refugee agency says the number of refugees worldwide has increased for the 12th year in a row to 120 million, with ongoing conflicts in places like Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
That number represents a doubling in the past 10 years.
For the 36th year, Australia is marking Refugee Week nationally, with this year's theme: Finding Freedom: Family.
The deputy CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia, Adama Kamara told SBS Kurdish, it highlights the many bonds created through the refugee journey.
"We know that family is so important for people who have travelled such a long way to resettle in a country such as Australia. And when we are talking about family, we're not just talking about your blood relatives, but also your chosen family. We know for many people who have come to Australia, they may not have any blood family. But they have got people in their lives who act as family - whether that is neighbours or other community members who have taken them in. They've got really strong relationships and bonds."
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A parliamentary inquiry on the state of civics education and engagement in Australia has heard that much more needs to be done to inspire young people to participate in Australia's democracy.
The inquiry heard views on whether the voting age should be lowered by two years to 16 - a campaign led by a group of 16- and 17-year-olds.
Dylan Storer is the W-A divisional president for UN Youth Australia, which runs workshops using a peer-to-peer model on leadership and civics engagement.
He told the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, that is very powerful to have young people be given the chance to practice solving big problems, as decisionmakers, on issues they care about.
"People that engage with civil society - again, that ranges from anything from UN Youth, up to the footy club, Red Cross, Salvation Army. Those people are far more tolerant, far more understanding of different opinions than people that aren't. Than people who may be more lonely. People who do get stuck more into echo chambers. So it is about breaking that down and that reintegration of community life into Australia."
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In tennis, Alex de Minaur has suffered a shock loss in his first round match at Queen's.
The world number seven went down in three sets to Lorenzo Musetti.
De Minaur will be the highest-ranked Australian at Wimbledon, which will begin on July 1.
