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BBC reports King Charles called Prince Harry to inform him of diagnosis
By Jessica McSweeney
King Charles called Prince Harry personally to inform him of his cancer diagnosis, the BBC reports.
The BBC was told the King made several phone calls in the moments after his diagnosis including to his estranged son, who is now believed to be travelling to the UK.
The King also personally told his other son Prince William and his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
Prince Harry leaving London’s High Court in June last year after giving evidence in a libel case.Credit: AP
Prince Harry and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan, moved to the US in 2020 after stepping away from royal duties.
The relationship between the couple and the senior royals has been distant at best in the years since, especially after the release of the couple’s Netflix documentary which aired allegations of racism within the royal family.
Prince Harry’s last public appearance with his father was at the King’s coronation.
Coalition formally agrees to back Labor’s stage 3 income tax cuts
By Paul Sakkal
Liberal MPs at a party room meeting in Canberra confirmed to this masthead that the opposition’s leadership decided to move amendments to Labor’s bill, but ultimately let the changes pass when the amendments inevitably fail.
The amendments would reflect the essence of the Morrison-era stage 3 changes, including abolishing the 37 per cent tax bracket.
Multiple MPs in the party room meeting, speaking on the condition of anonymity to detail internal debates, confirmed the policy position.
The opposition is expected to publicly announce its position later today during the first parliamentary sitting day of the year.
Coalition tying themselves in knots over stage 3 tax reforms: Albanese
By Olivia Ireland
Albanese has accused the Coalition of tying themselves in knots when it comes to their response to the reformed stage 3 tax package.
Asked if Australians can trust him after changing his word on stage 3 tax cuts, Albanese told reporters in Canberra that he clearly told the National Press Club last week the government had changed its position because of cost of living pressures.
“I was quite clear about us changing our position and why we were doing it,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this morning.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The legislation is expected to be introduced today, said Albanese, who accused the Coalition of playing politics.
“They’ve been tightening the screws on themselves as they tie themselves in knots. First they said they’d fight it. Then they said they’d roll it back. Now they say they’ll have a different position completely,” Albanese said.
“Our option is to give every taxpayer a tax cut. It is to overwhelmingly benefit low and middle income Australians. It is firmly targeted at middle Australia, as well as providing economic benefits. It’s the right decision done for the right reasons at the right time. And that’s what we’ll be advocating in the Parliament.”
Age Discrimination Commissioner announced
By Olivia Ireland
Former Commissioner on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and president of the Australian Council of Social Services Robert Fitzgerald has been announced as the next Age Discrimination Commissioner.
Fitzgerald is also currently serving as the Ageing and Disability Commissioner in NSW and will begin his five-year appointment on April 2 as the next Age Discrimination Commissioner.
”I congratulate Mr Fitzgerald on his appointment and thank him for taking on this important role. Mr Fitzgerald has dedicated his life to serving the community and his direct, recent experience fighting for the rights of older Australians will be a great asset to the Australian Human Rights Commission,” Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said.
The Age Discrimination Commissioner leads the commission’s work addressing barriers to equality and participation caused by age discrimination and protecting older Australians from discrimination based on age in employment, education, accommodation and the provision of goods and services.
Fitzgerald will be filling the vacancy resulting from the conclusion of Kay Patterson’s appointment.
“I thank Dr Patterson for her contribution during her term of appointment,” Dreyfus said.
‘Dismay, despair, frustration’ over Yang Hengjun sentence: PM
By Olivia Ireland
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed outrage at China over the suspended death sentence handed to Australian academic Yang Hengjun after five years of being held on vague espionage charges in Beijing.
Speaking this morning in Canberra, Albanese reiterated the government’s approach to China of cooperating when they can and disagreeing when they must.
Yang Hengjun has spent five years in a Beijing prison cell and received a suspended death sentence.Credit: Sanghee Liu
“We have conveyed firstly, to China, our dismay, our despair, our frustration but to put it really simply our outrage at this verdict,” he said.
“This is a very harsh sentence on Dr Yang, a man who is not in good health, and we will continue to make the strongest representations. We of course called in the ambassador yesterday, but we will make representations at all levels.”
PM reiterates well-wishes to King Charles
By Olivia Ireland
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated his well-wishes to King Charles, who has been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer after a prostate surgery.
Speaking after the service at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Canberra, Albanese expressed hope King Charles would recover and visit Australia.
King Charles III and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.Credit: Getty
“All Australians will be sending their best wishes to King Charles for a speedy recovery, this is difficult news, and we hope for King Charles, for his majesty and for all of their family … the very best,” he said.
“We want to see his majesty to return to full duties as soon as possible. We of course, look forward to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting [which], will be held in our region and of course, we have invited King Charles to visit Australia, and we sincerely hope that is able to occur.”
Burke believes stage 3 tax reform debate to start this week
By Olivia Ireland
Tony Burke, who is also the Leader of the House of Representatives, says he expects debate on the government’s reformed stage 3 tax package to begin this week and anticipates many members will wish to debate the legislation.
Speaking on ABC Radio National, Burke said the opposition had extra time to consider the legislation, meaning debate will likely start sooner.
Tony Burke believes the debate on tax reform will get underway this week.Credit: Oscar Colman
“I’m expecting that we won’t have to wait too long after the treasurer has introduced the legislation before we’re able to move to getting some debate done this week,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we have some nights go a little bit later this week and next week, to be able to try and make sure we get everyone to speak. This is one where every member of parliament I suspect is going to want to have their say on whether or not every Australian should get a tax cut.”
Negotiations on industrial relations bill continue: Burke
By Olivia Ireland
Negotiations to pass the government’s Closing Loopholes legislation are continuing, as Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke says conversations with independent senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie have been positive.
Speaking on ABC Radio National, Burke said he hoped to reach a positive conclusion with Pocock and Lambie, who both hold reservations about the bill.
“Nothing’s resolved until everything’s resolved. So at the moment, we don’t have a majority in the Senate. I’m hopeful, the conversations have been really constructive but you know, there’s no negotiation with David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie that’s an easy one,” he said.
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke.Credit: Oscar Colman
One part of the bill that has received extensive concerns from Pocock and Lambie is the “right to disconnect” – which would allow workers to tell their bosses to stop making unreasonable contact after hours.
“Certainly, it’s completely reasonable contacting people for shifts, all those sorts of things are completely reasonable, and we don’t want to get in the way of that [for employers],” Burke said.
“I’ll just add now what’s reasonable for a worker … if you’re in a job where you’re only paid for the exact hours that you’re working, some people are now constantly in a situation of getting in trouble if they’re not checking their emails, being expected to be working for a whole lot of time that they’re not being paid and that’s just unreasonable.”
PM wishes King Charles speedy recovery after cancer diagnosis
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken about the diagnosis of King Charles.
Albanese spoke outside St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church this morning, where a service is held to mark the commencement of Parliament for the year.
King Charles III with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Buckingham Palace in May.Credit: Getty
“Can I just say that today, the thoughts of all Australians are with King Charles and his family, we wish him very much a speedy recovery,” Albanese said outside the church.
“I’ll be sending a message to the palace this morning, and we hope that King Charles has a speedy recovery and a return to his duties as soon as possible.”
Biden, Trump react to King Charles diagnosis
By Jessica McSweeney
The former US president Donald Trump also shared his reaction to the news about King Charles, this time on his own Truth Social platform.
“He is a wonderful man, who I got to know well during my presidency, and we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden was asked about the King’s diagnosis at an event in Las Vegas, where he said he had just been told the news.
US President Joe Biden meets with King Charles III.Credit: Getty
“I’m concerned about him,” he said.
“Hopefully, I’ll be talking to him soon.”
During a press briefing spokesman for the US State Department Vedant Patel said he was “very sad”.
“Our thoughts are with the King and his family. That’s incredibly sad new … I’m very sorry for the King and his family,” he said.
Birmingham won’t confirm if Coalition will back tax changes
By Olivia Ireland
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham would not confirm if the Coalition will vote for the Albanese government’s reformed stage 3 tax package.
Instead, he reiterated the Coalition’s position will be standing for lower, simpler, fairer taxes.
As we reported below, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton convened a shadow cabinet meeting on yesterday afternoon to debate his response to the government plan. The Coalition will hold a party room meeting today to decide an alternative policy.
The opposition’s shadow foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“We’re working through the normal parliamentary party processes to settle our position, our position will ultimately be one of lower, simpler, fairer taxes,” Birmingham told ABC News this morning.
“A few dollars a week that [the government’s tax plan] would provide households isn’t going to do anything really to cover over that huge gap in household finances and the pressure people are facing.”
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2024-02-05 22:59:35Z
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