Faruqi v Hanson case adjourned
Amy Remeikis
As a part of his closing arguments, Mehreen Faruqi’s counsel, Saul Holt, has addressed his earlier accusation that Pauline Hanson was “mendacity underneath oath” when she stated she didn’t know that Faruqi was a Muslim on the time she despatched her tweet telling her to “piss off again to Pakistan”.
Hanson gave proof that she didn’t know Faruqi’s faith in September 2022, and solely learnt it someday earlier than she submitted her affidavit to the court docket in January this 12 months.
Holt put to Hanson that was “a lie”, given Faruqi was the primary feminine Muslim senator, 97% of the Pakistani inhabitants are Muslim and Faruqi has worn Muslim “garb” within the senate.
Hanson stated she didn’t know, had not seen Faruqi in a burqa or hijab, had by no means requested Faruqi or anybody their non secular standing and it “didn’t cross her thoughts” to incorporate that she didn’t know Faruqi’s faith when she dictated her tweet in her affidavit.
Justice Angus Stewart makes reference to a Guardian article which lined Faruqi’s first speech to the parliament, which included she was Muslim. The article has not been accepted into proof (up to now) and Justice Stewart says he “wouldn’t infer that Senator Hanson reads the Guardian” however that it may need been reported extra broadly.
Holt says that he believes Hanson wasn’t telling the reality about not realizing Faruqi’s non secular standing for 3 causes:
-
that Hanson has demonstrated “an intense curiosity in Islam, Muslims and significantly Muslims in energy” and subsequently taking into consideration “all of these issues” “the notion that she didn’t know that Senator Faruqi was a Muslim in that case is is so unlikely that your Honor would would a minimum of not settle for her proof”.
Hanson’s counsel has since submitted that “it could be incorrect to imagine that Senator Hanson was on the speech in query” [Faruqi’s first speech] however he can’t go additional than that (and say that she completely wasn’t) as a result of something that occurred within the chamber isn’t allowed on this court docket case.
The court docket is adjourned. Justice Angus Stewart will ship his judgement at a date to be set.
Key occasions
Elias Visontay
Bonza was nearly purchased by Australian purchaser earlier than administration: report
As directors decide the way forward for Bonza following the abrupt repossession of its plane on Tuesday, the corporate that offered upkeep companies to the price range airline has stated an area purchaser was on the cusp of taking the airline over from US non-public funding agency 777 Companions.
Chatting with the trade information outlet Australian Aviation, Bradley Davren, the CEO of AVCRO which has offered upkeep, repairs and overhaul to Bonza because it launched final 12 months, stated the airline had developed a sustainable enterprise mannequin earlier than coming into administration.
Davren instructed Australian Aviation {that a} “very critical dedication” had been made by the unnamed native backer earlier than the airline’s 5 remaining Boeing 737-Max 8 plane – procured via lease offers half owned by 777 Companions – had been repossessed on Tuesday morning by a brand new firm arrange in April, Phoenix Aviation Capital, that owned a controlling stake within the plane leases. Davren stated:
They had been able the place in the end the present proprietor might have simply shifted that legal responsibility away from themselves and the airline would have saved transferring fats, dumb and completely satisfied with out difficulty … The lead backer, to my understanding, may be very well-known and would completely do wonders for a number of causes.
But to be seen if that eventuates, however had that consequence come to fruition, I think you’ll have seen Bonza kick into overdrive.
Davren additionally sought to garbage recommendations Bonza’s enterprise mannequin had been unviable or that it had points with funds:
The airline was buying and selling with completely no credit score points. Clearly, we might be one among their largest collectors. They had been by no means on cease credit score with us. They by no means even seemed to be trending in that course, and in reality, it’s unfair to the workers if that is wound up, to counsel that that is the explanation why … Their load elements are implausible.
Earlier on Thursday, directors introduced Bonza would stay grounded as much as and together with Tuesday 7 Might. Discussions are persevering with to discover a potential purchaser to avoid wasting the airline. An additional replace is scheduled right this moment.
You possibly can learn extra right here:
Daniel Hurst
US official warns on nuclear “shortcuts”
A senior US official has warned towards “shortcuts” to nuclear disarmament because the Australian authorities considers signing a treaty imposing a blanket ban on nuclear weapons.
There isn’t a signal that the federal government is about to hitch the comparatively new settlement, often known as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and it isn’t supported by any of the present nuclear weapons states.
However Labor dedicated in its social gathering platform to signal and ratify the TPNW after taking account of a number of elements. Earlier this week MPs and senators from throughout the political spectrum vowed to press the federal government to hitch the TPNW, saying “historical past is looking”.
Paul Dean, the principal deputy assistant secretary within the US State Division’s bureau of arms management, deterrence and stability, held a digital press briefing right this moment. Guardian Australia requested him whether or not he had any message for the Australian authorities because it thought-about whether or not it might signal the TPNW.
Dean replied that he understood “the frustration globally with the tempo of disarmament” however added that it was “necessary to actually perceive that there are not any shortcuts out there in nuclear stability and nuclear disarmament”.
He stated the US was dedicated to pursuing “negotiations in good religion towards disarmament”, however stated this might require Russia “to interact constructively in arms management”. He added:
I feel, by the identical token, we’d like a good-faith interlocutor on the facet of the PRC [People’s Republic of China] to make some progress in managing a sophisticated nuclear deterrence relationship in a means that basically minimises the threat of bewilderment, misimpression, miscalculation that may result in poor decision-making and pointless and dear arms races.
Faruqi v Hanson case adjourned
Amy Remeikis
As a part of his closing arguments, Mehreen Faruqi’s counsel, Saul Holt, has addressed his earlier accusation that Pauline Hanson was “mendacity underneath oath” when she stated she didn’t know that Faruqi was a Muslim on the time she despatched her tweet telling her to “piss off again to Pakistan”.
Hanson gave proof that she didn’t know Faruqi’s faith in September 2022, and solely learnt it someday earlier than she submitted her affidavit to the court docket in January this 12 months.
Holt put to Hanson that was “a lie”, given Faruqi was the primary feminine Muslim senator, 97% of the Pakistani inhabitants are Muslim and Faruqi has worn Muslim “garb” within the senate.
Hanson stated she didn’t know, had not seen Faruqi in a burqa or hijab, had by no means requested Faruqi or anybody their non secular standing and it “didn’t cross her thoughts” to incorporate that she didn’t know Faruqi’s faith when she dictated her tweet in her affidavit.
Justice Angus Stewart makes reference to a Guardian article which lined Faruqi’s first speech to the parliament, which included she was Muslim. The article has not been accepted into proof (up to now) and Justice Stewart says he “wouldn’t infer that Senator Hanson reads the Guardian” however that it may need been reported extra broadly.
Holt says that he believes Hanson wasn’t telling the reality about not realizing Faruqi’s non secular standing for 3 causes:
-
that Hanson has demonstrated “an intense curiosity in Islam, Muslims and significantly Muslims in energy” and subsequently taking into consideration “all of these issues” “the notion that she didn’t know that Senator Faruqi was a Muslim in that case is is so unlikely that your Honor would would a minimum of not settle for her proof”.
Hanson’s counsel has since submitted that “it could be incorrect to imagine that Senator Hanson was on the speech in query” [Faruqi’s first speech] however he can’t go additional than that (and say that she completely wasn’t) as a result of something that occurred within the chamber isn’t allowed on this court docket case.
The court docket is adjourned. Justice Angus Stewart will ship his judgement at a date to be set.
Priya Nadesalingam, who spent 4 years in detention together with her household, is talking to ABC Afternoon Briefing concerning the authorities’s proposed deportation invoice.
The household has been again in Biloela for 2 years now, and was requested about her response to the proposed laws:
I’m very unhappy, my coronary heart is damaged… There are literally thousands of folks like me and my household. Please don’t power folks to depart Australia, put [them] in jail… These persons are a part of the Australian group, similar to we’re.
Elias Visontay
Bonza’s grounding prolonged amid uncertainty over future
As we flagged earlier, price range airline Bonza’s planes will stay grounded for an extra 5 days in any case, after it entered voluntary administration.
All Bonza flights as much as and together with Tuesday, 7 Might have been cancelled. In an announcement, the directors stated:
While the directors are frequently in discussions with the lessor of the corporate’s fleet and related events relating to resumption of operations, these discussions are occurring every day and can proceed to happen over the forthcoming days and into subsequent week.
The directors and the corporate admire the affect that is having on clients and staff.
An additional replace is scheduled to be issued later right this moment.
You possibly can learn extra beneath:
Emily Wind
Many thanks for becoming a member of me on the weblog right this moment, Nino Bucci will likely be with you for the subsequent short while. Take care.
Natasha Might
Returning to the vaping Senate inquiry
Scott Weber, the CEO of the Police Federation of Australia, is telling the Senate vaping inquiry that the sale of unlawful vapes is a “enormous difficulty” however police would not have the aptitude or numbers to sort out it.
Weber says vapes current a “well being difficulty that has now was a legal one”. Nonetheless, police “don’t know what to do”.
Weber says a clearer nationwide licensing scheme is required in order that police can implement it in the identical means they do liquor, which reverses the onus on the seller to show that they’ve the best to promote it. He says police want extra coaching, schooling and functionality to have the ability to tackle unlawful vapes – however for the time being cops don’t have the time both.
The federal authorities would wish to fund devoted cops to the problem as at present there are police shortages throughout the nation whose priorities are points like violence, he stated.
Birmingham stated authorities ought to plan to go to Solomon Islands quickly
The shadow international minister, Simon Birmingham, says Penny Wong ought to go to the Solomon Islands “the place acceptable” and he could be ready to go to, too, following the election of its new prime minister, Jeremiah Manele.
Chatting with ABC Afternoon Briefing, he stated:
In the end we might anticipate the Albanese authorities to need to, and to hunt to, interact with a brand new authorities within the Solomon Islands as rapidly as they moderately can – respectful of the necessity for [a] new prime minister to get their ft underneath the desk and respectful of the timelines they could take into account … We will likely be keen as an opposition to cooperate in any engagements the place acceptable.
Social companies minister responds to knowledge exhibiting 50% of individuals making use of for home violence fee are rejected
The social companies minister, Amanda Rishworth, was requested about knowledge printed by Guardian Australia that half of individuals attempting to entry emergency monetary assist for home and household violence are having their claims rejected:
Chatting with Afternoon Briefing on the ABC, Rishworth stated it was “not the one fee that’s out there” and added:
… The eligibility is intentionally centered on folks when they’re leaving a violent circumstance.
Q: So are you involved that fifty% of persons are nonetheless being knocked again?
Rishworth stated this system will assess eligibility and “if somebody isn’t eligible for this system, they are going to be diverted to different companies and assist”.
There are various causes folks [are not] eligible for this system. Some causes are folks withdraw their software, they not want the monetary assist. So – a lot of causes folks could not progress. However this is a vital a part of the system, however not the one a part of assist within the system.
Andrew Wilkie needs ACCC to research Qantas ‘service expenses’
The impartial MP Andrew Wilkie has written to the ACCC calling on it to research Qantas “service expenses” on frequent flyer tickets.
In a letter to the ACCC’s chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, Wilkie stated he was involved the fees are “an underhand[ed] means for the airline to truly cost for flights regardless of the shopper’s understanding that such flights are paid for with factors”.
He stated service expenses are “not itemised or defined” and “range significantly with the route, class of journey and airport of origin”:
Clients can solely learn how a lot they are going to be when making a reserving as they don’t seem to be listed wherever. I might not be stunned if many loyal Qantas clients don’t realise they’re being charged by the airline for utilizing their well-earned loyalty factors.
Wilkie referred to as for the ACCC to research the service expenses “with the view to banning” them or “a minimum of making certain they’re printed and available to clients previous to reserving flights”.
Amy Remeikis
Faruqi agrees with commonwealth arguments that Hanson tweet not political communication
Persevering with from our final publish: Leneham finishes and Faruqi’s counsel, Saul Holt, is now making his arguments on these points.
Holt largely agrees with the commonwealth, arguing Hanson’s tweet was not political communication simply because she is a senator. Holt:
It’s an offended slur that might have been written by anybody no matter their standing as a senator or in any other case. And the way in which during which that was justified was by [Hanson’s counsel] Mr Smark was to make a rhetorical submission that politics … contain[s] a silencing of 1’s opponents and assaulting one’s opponents or offending one’s opponents as a part of the persuasive course of.
And it is perhaps accepted that Australian politics is not any totally different from politics in lots of different elements of the world in that respect. However:
… Is there some inherent element of it which requires it to be racially abusive? And the reply is not any.
Amy Remeikis
Commonwealth wrapping up arguments at Faruqi v Hanson case
On the finish of his submission to the federal court docket, the barrister representing the commonwealth attorney-general Craig Leneham has simply completed his arguments on why the constitutional validity of part 18c or 18d of the racial discrimination act doesn’t apply on this case.
What does it come all the way down to based on the commonwealth? After going via all of the precedents, Leneham says:
We are saying [it] would comfortably lead your honour to reject any suggestion that the very excessive threshold check is glad on this case by our buddies [Hanson’s counsel]. They simply haven’t met that vital burden.
The burden being, how Pauline Hanson’s tweet to Mehreen Faruqi telling her to ‘piss off again to Pakistan’ was protected political speech, or falling underneath the implied proper of freedom of speech.
The commonwealth says, in our view, it’s not. And subsequently Hanson’s argument that the laws Faruqi introduced this case with is a block to her freedom of speech, or political communication, needs to be rejected.
Extra to return in a second.
Youth minister responds to pro-Palestine encampments
The minister for youth, Anne Aly, has responded to the rising variety of pro-Palestine encampments being established at universities throughout the nation. Chatting with ABC’s Afternoon Briefing simply now, she stated:
The fitting to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and one thing that I assist, nevertheless I draw the road at the place protests turn into intimidating or violent and it considerations me that there are college students on campuses which might be feeling unsafe on-campus. It considerations me as a former tutorial who has labored at college campuses for a lot of my working life …
The schooling minister, Jason Clare, has written to vice chancellors – all universities have a code of conduct for college kids and employees and it’s important that the schools implement the code of conduct. If these protests have gotten violent or are making folks on-campus really feel unsafe in any means, it’s completely unacceptable and there must be a line within the sand right here.
The Bureau of Meteorology has printed a climate replace for the weekend, flagging widespread rain for NSW and thunderstorms unfold throughout massive elements of the state:
Bonza passengers in limbo as planes grounded for longer
Bonza passengers will likely be grounded for nearly one other week because the price range airline’s directors speak with the lessor of its fleet, AAP experiences.
Directors Corridor Chadwick confirmed right this moment there could be no flights till a minimum of Wednesday – 5 extra days than beforehand anticipated.
The agency would proceed to speak with the lessor of Bonza’s fleet and different events concerning the “resumption of operations” into subsequent week, a spokesman stated.
Clients with bookings throughout this era are suggested to not journey to the airport. Clients scheduled to journey throughout this time are requested to make various preparations with different airline carriers.
Corridor Chadwick was anticipated to present one other replace later right this moment.