This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Albanese Backs U.S. Iran Strikes, Warns of Regional Escalation as Australia Urges Citizens to Flee

March 1, 2026

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday expressed support for U.S.-led military strikes against Iran, calling the Iranian regime a direct threat to international peace and security while urging Australians in the Middle East to depart immediately.

Speaking in Sydney, Albanese stopped short of committing Australian forces to the operation but defended the strikes as a necessary response to Iran’s nuclear program and its support for armed proxies. He cited at least two IRGC-linked attacks on Australian soil in 2024 — including the firebombing of an Adass synagogue in Melbourne — as evidence of the regime’s global reach.

Key Developments:

• Australia opened a DFAT registration portal for citizens seeking assisted departure from Israel and Iran

• Travel advice upgraded to “do not travel” for Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE

• Flight disruptions reported across the region, with Emirates and Etihad services affected by transport hub closures

Australia’s Prior Actions Against Iran:

• Expelled Iran’s ambassador in 2024 — the first expulsion since World War II

• Suspended operations at its Tehran embassy

• Listed the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism

• Sanctioned more than 200 Iranian-linked individuals

When pressed on the legality of the strikes, Albanese deferred to the United States and allied nations directly involved, reiterating that Iran’s conduct — including bombing areas of Dubai — represented an escalation “consistent with the nature of the regime.”

Australians requiring consular assistance can contact the Consular Emergency Centre at 1300 555 135 (within Australia) or +61 2 6261 3305 (international), available 24 hours a day.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

The ABS Labour Force report for January 2026 presents a mixed picture of the Australian jobs market. While headline unemployment held steady and full-time employment rose by 50,000, a simultaneous loss of 33,000 part-time positions tempered overall employment growth to just 18,000 for the month.

Key Details:

• Unemployment rate steady at 4.1% (seasonally adjusted)

• Full-time employment up 50,000; part-time employment down 33,000

• Net employment growth of 18,000 for January

• Participation rate fell to 66.7% — down 0.6 percentage points from January 2025’s record high

• Underemployment rate rose 0.2 points to 5.9%

• Underutilisation rate climbed 0.2 points to 10.0%

• Youth underemployment jumped 1.0 percentage point to 14.8%

• Total hours worked rose 0.6% — outpacing employment growth

Trend Indicators:

• Trend unemployment fell from 4.2% in December to 4.1% in January

• Unemployed persons decreased for the fourth consecutive month

• Trend hours worked grew faster than employment on an annual basis

ABS Commentary: Sean Crick, ABS Head of Labour Statistics, noted the youth underemployment rise “largely reversed the fall recorded last month,” flagging the reversal as a key concern within an otherwise stable headline result. Crick attributed stronger hours growth to fewer workers taking seasonal leave compared with typical Januarys.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Australian wages grew 0.8% in the December quarter 2025 and 3.4% over the year, according to seasonally adjusted data released Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The Wage Price Index report showed public sector wages rising at an annual rate of 4.0%, outpacing private sector growth of 3.4% for the fourth consecutive quarter. ABS Head of Prices Statistics Michelle Marquardt attributed the stronger public sector result to new state enterprise agreements delivering multiple pay rises throughout the year, including backdated increases applied shortly after agreements were finalised.

Healthcare and social assistance was the top-contributing industry for the quarter across both sectors, driven by Commonwealth-funded wage increases in aged care and early childhood education, as well as scheduled enterprise agreement rises for frontline health workers in New South Wales.

Private sector annual wage growth edged up to 3.4% from 3.3% recorded in the year to December 2024.

The ABS noted the Wage Price Index is designed to measure pure price change in wages and salaries, independent of workforce composition or changes in the quality or quantity of work performed.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Wage Price Index, Australia, December Quarter 2025. Released Feb. 18, 2026.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

The Leader of the Australian Opposition has announced a restructured Coalition front bench, reuniting the Liberal and National parties under a single parliamentary team and signalling a sharpened electoral strategy ahead of the next federal election.

The new shadow ministry centres on economic accountability and national security, with the opposition leader framing the reshuffle as a direct challenge to what he described as “the worst government in our nation’s history.”

Key Appointments:

• Senator Jane Hu — Deputy Leader; Shadow Minister for Employment, Industrial Relations, Productivity and Deregulation

• Tim Wilson — Shadow Treasurer, tasked with pursuing lower taxes and reduced inflation

• Senator Jacinta Price — Shadow Minister for Small Business and Skills and Training

• Senator Claire Chandler — Shadow Minister for Finance, Government Services and the Public Service

• Andrew Hastie — Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability; Deputy Leader in the House of Representatives

• Aaron Violi — Shadow Minister for Digital Economy, Science, Technology, Innovation and Cyber Security

• Senator Michaelia Cash — Shadow Attorney-General; Opposition Leader in the Senate

• Senator John O’Dunoghue — Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration

Coalition Position: The opposition leader cited rising living costs, energy prices, housing affordability, and border security as the defining issues the new team will prosecute against the Labor government. The reunification of the National Party was confirmed as endorsed by the Liberal Party leadership.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

The Liberal Party positioned home ownership as its centerpiece issue under new leader Angus Taylor, who says "young Australians deserve the stability and opportunity to own a home" in a direct pitch to priced-out buyers.

If you can’t afford to buy a home, Australia’s conservative opposition wants you to know they’re now making that their problem to solve.

Angus Taylor, sworn in as Liberal Party leader on February 13, 2026, made housing affordability his first major policy commitment - signaling a shift in conservative priorities toward younger voters facing a brutal property market.

“We’ll re-establish home ownership as the centerpiece of the Australian dream,” Taylor said in his inaugural press conference at Parliament House. “All Australians, especially young Australians, deserve the stability and the opportunity to own a home.”

Why this matters to you

Australia’s housing crisis has intensified over the past decade. Median house prices in major cities have soared while wage growth stagnated. Many millennials and Gen Z buyers have been entirely locked out of the market, forced into long-term renting or living with parents well into their 30s.

For young Australians, this represents a fundamental break from previous generations who could reasonably expect to buy a home by their late 20s or early 30s.

What the Liberal Party hasn’t specified yet

Taylor’s press conference was long on commitment but short on details. He didn’t outline:

• Specific policies to increase housing supply

• Whether they’d restrict foreign buyers or investment properties

• Tax incentives for first-home buyers

• Infrastructure plans to open up new housing areas

• Any timeline for when these policies would be released

What is the Liberal Party?

Australia’s center-right major party, currently in opposition after losing badly in the 2025 election. The party traditionally favors free markets and lower taxes but is now under pressure to show it cares about issues affecting younger Australians - a demographic that has trended away from conservative parties.

The housing crisis by numbers

While Taylor didn’t cite specific statistics in his speech, the housing situation he’s responding to is severe:

• Homeownership rates for Australians under 35 have fallen dramatically from previous generations

• Rent now consumes 30-50% of income for many younger workers

• Waiting times for public housing stretch into years in major cities

(Note: These are general trends - the transcript doesn’t include specific data, and we can’t verify current exact figures without additional sources.)

The political calculation

Taylor’s housing focus represents a strategic choice. He’s competing with:

Labor (current government): Already has housing policies in place, though Taylor argues they’re failing

The Greens: Have pushed aggressive policies like rent caps and massive social housing expansion, appealing to younger renters

One Nation: A right-wing populist party that’s been gaining conservative voters on immigration and cost-of-living issues

By leading with housing, Taylor is trying to show the Liberal Party cares about issues that directly affect young people’s daily lives - not just traditional conservative concerns like defence or economic management.

What comes with the housing promise

Taylor packaged housing with related economic commitments:

• Lower taxes overall (”The Liberal Party must always be the party of lower taxes”)

• Fighting any new taxes on homes or superannuation (retirement savings)

• Reducing childcare costs through more “choice and flexibility” (possibly subsidizing nannies or at-home care, though unspecified)

• Lowering energy costs by scrapping what he called “carbon taxes”

The credibility problem

There’s an awkward fact Taylor had to confront: he was shadow treasurer when the Liberal Party made what he now admits were “big calls wrong” on tax policy during the 2025 election campaign.

That loss left the party with just 30 of 151 parliamentary seats - its worst position since formation in 1944.

Now he’s asking voters, including young would-be homebuyers, to trust that things will be different under his leadership.

What happens next

Taylor needs to follow through with actual policy. The housing commitment is currently a priority statement, not a plan.

Parliament returns from summer break on February 17, 2026. The next federal election must happen by May 2028, giving Taylor roughly two years to prove his housing focus is genuine before voters decide.

Opposition parties can make promises, but they can’t implement policy until they win government. For now, this is about signaling what the Liberal Party would prioritize if elected - and trying to win back voters who’ve given up on conservative politics caring about their financial future.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Sussan Ley's decision to quit Parliament will force a special election in her rural NSW seat — and if Liberals lose it, their ability to block Labor's agenda gets weaker.

The political fallout from Sussan Ley’s leadership loss extends beyond Canberra’s party room drama. Her announcement that she’ll resign from Parliament entirely means voters in Farrah, a sprawling rural electorate in western New South Wales, will head back to the polls in a by-election that could shift the balance of power.

What Just Happened

After losing the Liberal leadership ballot Friday, Ley announced she won’t just step down as party leader — she’s leaving Parliament completely after 25 years representing Farrah.

“I will be spending the next couple of weeks thanking the amazing people of Farrah and expressing my gratitude to them for the honour of representing them for 25 years,” Ley said. “Shortly thereafter, I will be tendering my resignation to the Speaker.”

When she resigns, it triggers an automatic by-election in Farrah. These special elections let voters choose a new MP to fill the vacant seat for the rest of the current parliamentary term.

Why This Matters

For young voters in Farrah: You’ll be voting again sooner than expected, and this is your chance to signal whether you want a Liberal representative to continue in this seat or try something different.

For parliamentary math: Liberals currently hold a certain number of seats in Parliament. Losing Farrah would mean one fewer MP voting on laws and policies. While they’re already in opposition, every seat matters for their ability to negotiate, block legislation, or win future votes.

For political momentum: By-elections often signal broader voter mood. If Liberals can’t hold Farrah — a seat they’ve won for decades — it suggests the party’s troubles go deeper than just leadership chaos.

What Is a By-Election?

A by-election is a special vote held between regular elections when a seat becomes vacant — usually because an MP resigns, dies, or is disqualified. Everyone in that electorate votes to choose a new representative.

By-elections happen more quickly than general elections and often become referendums on the current government or opposition party. They can shift the total number of seats each party holds in Parliament.

The Seat of Farrah

Farrah covers the western plains of New South Wales, including the Murray and Murrumbidgee river regions — vast farming communities far from Sydney’s urban centers.

Ley first won the seat in 2001 by just 206 votes and has been re-elected nine times since. She described it as representing “the western plains of New South Wales, the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers and the rural communities that it has been my enormous privilege to represent.”

The electorate typically leans conservative, but Ley’s long personal connection to the region means it’s unclear whether voters will stick with the Liberal Party or consider alternatives now that she’s gone.

The Timeline

2001: Sussan Ley wins Farrah by 206 votes, beginning a 25-year career

2001-2024: Re-elected nine times, becoming the region’s longest-serving representative

May 2024: Becomes Liberal Party leader while still holding Farrah seat

Today: Loses leadership, announces resignation from Parliament

Next few weeks: Ley thanks constituents, formally resigns to Speaker

Likely late February/early March: By-election date set and campaigning begins

Estimated 4-6 weeks later: By-election held, new MP sworn in

What Could Happen

Scenario 1 — Liberals hold the seat: The party nominates a strong local candidate who convinces voters to stick with Liberal representation despite the leadership chaos. This would limit the damage from Ley’s departure.

Scenario 2 — Labor wins: If voters blame the Liberal Party for leadership instability or want to send a message, Labor could flip the seat. This would strengthen Labor’s parliamentary numbers and suggest rural voters are abandoning conservatives.

Scenario 3 — Independent win: Rural and regional Australia has seen a surge in independent candidates who promise to prioritize local issues over party politics. An independent could win if voters want representation divorced from Canberra drama.

Scenario 4 — Nationals challenge: The National Party (Liberals’ coalition partner, focused on rural issues) might see this as a chance to expand their own representation in the region.

Different Perspectives

Liberal Party strategists are likely worried. Losing Farrah would be both a symbolic and practical blow — symbolic because it’s Ley’s long-held seat, practical because it weakens their parliamentary numbers during an already difficult period.

Labor campaign teams see opportunity. Rural seats have been shifting politically across Australia, and leadership chaos in the Liberal Party creates an opening to flip traditionally conservative electorates.

Independent candidates might argue this is exactly why voters need representatives who focus on local issues rather than party room drama. The trend of “teal independents” (centrist independents focused on climate and integrity) has reshaped Australian politics.

Local voters face a choice: stick with the party that’s represented them for decades, or use this by-election to voice frustration with political instability and demand different representation.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Angus Taylor has won the Liberal Party leadership in a decisive 34-17 ballot victory over Sussan Ley, who held the position for nine months. The Friday morning spill followed a mass frontbench exodus and was triggered by the party's polling collapse to below 20 percent primary support—historic lows—while One Nation surged to nearly 30 percent.

The partyroom is now voting on deputy leadership, with Taylor facing the challenge of uniting a fractured opposition amid what senior senators described as a "change or die moment" for the party.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Liberal MP Angus Taylor resigned from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s shadow cabinet Wednesday night, declaring he no longer believes she can lead the party and describing the Liberals as weaker than at any point since their formation in 1944. The shadow defence minister told reporters he had just tendered his resignation after walking into Ley’s office, a move that sets the stage for a formal leadership challenge expected within days.

Taylor’s resignation comes amid mounting internal pressure over the Liberal Party’s historic polling collapse. The latest Sky News Pulse shows the party at 19 percent primary vote under Ley’s leadership, with her personal approval rating at minus 40 percent. Liberal Senators Sarah Henderson and Jane Hume have publicly warned the party faces an “existential crisis” and risks being “wiped out” unless change occurs.

Sky News reports the anticipated leadership spill vote is “extremely tight,” potentially hinging on one or two MPs. Ley has pushed back against public dissent, telling Sky News on Monday her leadership was “secure” and that party discussions should remain in the partyroom. Under parliamentary convention, shadow cabinet members must resign if they do not support the party leader.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

The New South Wales Supreme Court on Monday rejected a legal challenge by the Palestine Action Group against expanded police powers granted during Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s four-day visit to Australia.

Justice Robertson Wright dismissed the case hours before a planned protest at Sydney Town Hall, allowing police to maintain extraordinary search and move-on powers across the city’s central business district and eastern suburbs until Thursday.

Key Details:

• Police authorized to search anyone within designated zones without cause

• Powers invoked under “major event” legislation typically used for sporting events

• Non-compliance penalties reach $5,500

• Declaration covers four-day period across broad geographical area

Legal Arguments: The Palestine Action Group, represented by barrister Felicity Graham and Peter Lange SC, argued the Minns government improperly used major event legislation as a “backdoor way” to suppress political protests against a controversial head of state.

Government barrister Brendan Lim SC countered that powers were necessary to “secure the safety of the president, dignitaries and the community generally” following the Bondi terror attack that killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration.

Ongoing Implications: Protesters plan to proceed with Monday evening’s demonstration, potentially breaching separate public assembly restrictions extended last Tuesday. The restrictions effectively ban unauthorized marches in designated areas including Town Hall and the northern CBD, though Hyde Park remains excluded.

Sports Minister Steve Kamper cited concerns that confrontations could damage Australia’s international reputation, comments Graham characterized as revealing the government’s true intent to curtail legitimate political expression.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Australia’s Consumer Price Index rose 3.8 percent in the year to December 2025, up from 3.4 percent in November, marking a significant acceleration in inflation pressures across the economy, according to data released Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Housing costs drove the annual increase, rising 5.5 percent and representing the largest contributor to inflation. Within that category, electricity prices surged 21.5 percent over the 12 months, primarily reflecting the depletion of state government rebates in Queensland and Western Australia that had previously cushioned household bills.

“The 3.8 percent annual CPI inflation to December was up from 3.4 percent to November,” said Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 3.4 percent annually, with beef and lamb prices each climbing more than 10 percent due to strong overseas demand for Australian red meat. Weather-related shortages pushed vegetable prices up 3.8 percent, while reduced apple supply contributed to a 4.2 percent increase in fruit costs.

Recreation and culture inflation reached 4.4 percent, propelled by domestic holiday travel and accommodation prices that jumped 9.6 percent annually. December saw an 8.2 percent monthly spike in travel costs driven by Christmas demand, school holidays and major events including the Ashes cricket series.

Rental inflation showed modest easing to 3.9 percent from 4 percent, attributed to stable vacancy rates in most capital cities. The Trimmed mean measure of underlying inflation rose to 3.3 percent from 3.2 percent in November.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Australia’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent in December as the economy added 65,200 jobs, marking one of the stronger monthly employment gains in recent months, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported Wednesday.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 4.3 percent in November, driven largely by increased employment among workers aged 15 to 24, according to Sean Crick, the bureau’s head of labour statistics. Full-time employment accounted for 54,800 of the new positions, while part-time work added 10,400 jobs.

Monthly hours worked reached a record high of more than 2 billion hours for the first time, rising 0.4 percent in line with overall employment growth. The participation rate, measuring the share of the population working or actively seeking work, increased to 66.7 percent.

The underemployment rate, reflecting workers unable to secure desired hours, fell 0.5 percentage points to 5.7 percent. Among teenagers aged 15 to 19, underemployment dropped from 19.5 percent to 17.4 percent.

Male employment rose by 49,000 workers, while female employment increased by 17,000. The trend unemployment rate, which smooths monthly volatility, declined marginally to 4.2 percent.

The Reserve Bank of Australia monitors employment data closely as it weighs monetary policy decisions amid persistent inflation concerns. More detailed regional labour market data will be released Jan. 29.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Tuesday that the government will launch a fast-tracked security review into the recent Bondi Beach terror attack, rejecting calls from victims’ families for a broader Royal Commission.

The Richardson Review, led by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson, will examine the performance of Commonwealth security agencies and report by April 2026. The inquiry will assess what federal agencies knew about the alleged offenders before the ISIS-inspired attack that targeted people celebrating Hanukkah at the Sydney beach.

Richardson, a former Secretary of Defence, Foreign Affairs Secretary, and Australian ambassador to the United States, will have full access to classified materials and require cooperation from the Australian Federal Police, ASIO, and other agencies.

The government’s decision sets up a conflict with families of the attack victims, who publicly called for a Royal Commission—a more expansive public inquiry with broader legal powers that typically takes years to complete.

“We need to respond with unity and urgency rather than division and delay,” Albanese said at a press conference following a National Security Committee meeting. “My job as Prime Minister is to act in the national interest.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the decision, arguing that a Royal Commission examining broader issues of anti-Semitism and extremism would “re-platform” hateful voices and delay critical security reforms by years. The Opposition’s proposed terms of reference included 73 sub-items covering media, education, and cultural institutions.

Parliament will reconvene in 2026 to consider any legislative changes recommended by the review. A separate New South Wales Royal Commission and criminal proceedings against the surviving alleged perpetrator will run concurrently.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday unveiled a comprehensive legislative package targeting hate speech and extremism, eight days after a terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that authorities describe as ISIS-inspired and anti-Semitic.

The measures, approved by Cabinet, include creating aggravated offences for hate preaching, establishing a system to list and ban prohibited hate organizations, and granting powers to cancel visas for individuals suspected of engaging in vilification or associating with terrorist groups.

Albanese apologized to Australia’s Jewish community for the attack, which occurred during Hanukkah celebrations, saying he feels “the weight of responsibility for an atrocity that happened whilst I’m Prime Minister.”

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the package includes a new aggravated offence targeting adults who seek to radicalize children. Officials noted that 17 of 33 people currently facing terrorism charges in Australian courts are minors, marking what Dreyfus called “unprecedented radicalisation of our youth.”

The legislation will be drafted over coming weeks for introduction in the new year, with consultation planned across the Jewish community and parliament. Albanese called for “urgency and unity, not division and delay,” drawing comparisons to Australia’s bipartisan response following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

The government rejected calls for a federal royal commission into the attack, instead supporting a New South Wales state inquiry and an existing Richardson Review of intelligence agencies.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

ustralia's Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Monday released draft terms of reference for a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack that killed 15 people, directly challenging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish the inquiry before Christmas.

Ley accused the federal government of failing to adequately respond to the deadly shooting and the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia since October 2023. She criticized Albanese for refusing to call a Commonwealth-level inquiry and for not issuing what she described as an unqualified apology to the Jewish community.

"The Prime Minister's refusal to call a Commonwealth Royal Commission and to offer an unqualified apology, as Premier Minns has done, is adding insult to the injury that the Jewish community is feeling and our nation is feeling," Ley said at a press conference in Sydney.

The Coalition leader said she would move to establish the Royal Commission when Parliament reconvenes, regardless of whether Labor supports the initiative. She invited Albanese to meet immediately to finalize the terms of reference on a bipartisan basis.

"It's up to Labor to decide whether they support it or they don't," Ley said. "I hope they listen to the Jewish community who so often, over the last two years in particular, have felt that their Prime Minister did not listen."

The Shadow Attorney General argued that a Commonwealth inquiry is necessary because the issues are "multidimensional and multijurisdictional," extending beyond state-level matters to include federal counter-terrorism laws, electronic surveillance capabilities, and failures across universities, government agencies, and civil society.

Ley said the Jewish community made their demand for a Commonwealth Royal Commission clear at a vigil Sunday night, where the Prime Minister was reportedly met with jeers. She called on Albanese to "look past the jeers" and "hear the cries" of the community.

The Opposition Leader revealed that Labor MP Mike Freelander, who represents a Sydney-based electorate, has joined calls for the Commonwealth inquiry. She criticized senior government ministers, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong, for not attending community events following the attack.

"I haven't seen Penny Wong on the streets of Bondi. I haven't seen Penny Wong at the vigil for 15 innocent murdered Australians," Ley said.

The proposed Royal Commission would examine anti-Semitism across university campuses, the arts sector, schools, and all levels of government. Lee said the Coalition wants preliminary findings within six months.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has been considering a state-level Royal Commission, but the Coalition argues only a Commonwealth inquiry has the authority to examine federal agencies and cross-jurisdictional issues.

The Opposition contends that outdated electronic surveillance laws, some dating back 20 years before encrypted messaging apps became widespread, have hampered counter-terrorism efforts.

Ley said the federal Parliament should have been sitting Monday, noting that the New South Wales Parliament was in session. "Prime Minister, the time for words really is finished," she said.

The Prime Minister's office has not yet responded to requests for comment on the Opposition's proposal.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Friday that Australia will establish a national gun buyback scheme to remove hundreds of thousands of firearms from circulation, marking the largest such program since the landmark 1996 reforms following the Port Arthur massacre.

The buyback scheme, to be funded 50-50 by federal and state governments, targets surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms as part of the government’s response to Sunday’s terrorist attack at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people. The announcement came as the National Security Committee revealed new intelligence confirming the attack was ISIS-inspired through regular online video feeds accessed by the perpetrators.

“There are now more than four million firearms in Australia, more than at the time of the Port Arthur massacre nearly 30 years ago,” Albanese stated at a Friday press conference. “The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets.”

One of the Bondi terrorists held a firearms license and possessed six guns despite living in Bondi, a dense Sydney suburb, according to the Prime Minister. “There’s no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns,” Albanese said, highlighting systemic failures in firearms licensing that allowed the attack.

The buyback follows reforms agreed by National Cabinet on Monday that limit the number of firearms individuals can hold, restrict open-ended licensing, make Australian citizenship a condition of holding a license, and accelerate work on the National Firearms Register. Intelligence agencies will now contribute criminal intelligence assessments to firearms licensing decisions beyond simple background checks.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Friday the largest gun buyback scheme since 1996 and declared a national day of reflection after investigators confirmed an ISIS-inspired terror attack at Bondi Beach killed 15 people during Chanukah celebrations.

Intelligence agencies identified a regular online ISIS video feed that reinforces the attack was ideologically motivated, Albanese said following the sixth National Security Committee meeting since Sunday’s assault. The final victim was identified Friday as Tania Tretiak, a Randwick resident attending the religious gathering.

“Australia’s gun laws were substantially reformed after the Port Arthur tragedy,” Albanese said. “The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets.”

One of the attackers held a legal firearm license and owned six guns despite living in suburban Bonnyrigg in western Sydney, authorities confirmed. There are now more than 4 million firearms in Australia — exceeding the number present during the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that prompted sweeping gun reform.

The federal government will co-fund the buyback scheme on a 50-50 basis with state and territory governments to purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms. Legislation supporting the initiative will be introduced in 2026, with Albanese citing constitutional and free speech considerations requiring careful review.

Sunday, December 21 has been designated a national day of reflection. Flags on government buildings will fly at half-mast, and Australians are invited to light candles at 6:47 p.m. — exactly one week after the attack — and observe a minute of silence.

NSW Police are questioning five men intercepted Thursday while traveling from Melbourne toward Bondi. Tactical operations responded to information that “a violent act was possibly being planned,” according to a police statement. No charges have been filed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australia’s response, telling Sky News that terrorists “chose Bondi because there’s no protection there” and urged the government to “wake up.”

More than 40 people were injured in the attack. Investigations into motivation and potential additional connections remain ongoing.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled new hate speech legislation Thursday in response to a terror attack that killed 15 people at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, but declined to recall Parliament or establish a Royal Commission despite mounting political pressure and accusations his government ignored warning signs.

The reforms, developed by the National Security Committee, include creating aggravated offenses for leaders who promote violence, increased penalties for incitement, and provisions allowing authorities to list organizations engaged in hate speech. A narrow federal offense for serious racial vilification will also be developed.

Albanese defended his government’s response to antisemitism, noting Australia had already outlawed Nazi symbols and became “the first government to legislate on hate speech.” However, he acknowledged “there’s more that we can do” following Sunday’s massacre during Hanukkah celebrations.

Alleged gunman Naveed Akram, 24, faces 59 charges including 15 counts of murder after emerging from a medically induced coma Tuesday. Seventeen victims remain hospitalized, with one listed in critical condition.

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg challenged the government’s timeline and transparency, demanding immediate accountability through a Royal Commission. In an emotional address at the attack site, Frydenberg accused officials of allowing Australia to be “radicalised” while ignoring intelligence warnings.

“What warnings did the government have? What could it have done to prevent that event last Sunday?” Frydenberg asked, calling for deportation of hate preachers and stronger immigration controls.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley joined the Royal Commission calls, but Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke rejected the proposal, citing potential delays. Burke has declined to answer questions about his handling of security threats prior to the attack.

Investigators are examining whether the alleged shooters’ month-long visit to extremism hotspots in the southern Philippines should have triggered financial monitoring alerts under existing money laundering laws.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced sweeping hate speech legislation Thursday following a terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, though he resisted mounting pressure to convene Parliament immediately or establish a Royal Commission into the massacre.

The National Security Committee agreed to five broad legislative changes targeting antisemitic violence, including new aggravated offenses for leaders who promote violence, increased penalties for hate speech, and provisions to list organizations whose leaders engage in incitement. The Attorney-General and Home Affairs Minister will develop the specific legislation.

“Every Jewish Australian has the right to be proud of who they are and what they believe. And every Jewish Australian has the right to feel safe,” Albanese said at a press conference from Parliament House.

The reforms follow Sunday’s attack during Hanukkah celebrations, when alleged gunman Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire on beachgoers. Akram has been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act. Seventeen victims remain hospitalized, with one in critical condition.

However, Albanese declined to recall Parliament before year’s end, citing the complexity of the proposed laws and the need for broad parliamentary consultation. He also did not commit to a Royal Commission, despite calls from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and former treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

In an emotional speech at the attack site, Frydenberg accused the government of ignoring warning signs and failing its duty to protect Jewish Australians. He called for immediate deportation of hate preachers and stronger immigration controls.

“Now is the time for accountability and action because this horrible event was all too predictable and we had a government that ignored the warning signs,” Frydenberg said.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke dismissed Royal Commission calls, telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, “You don’t want the delays that are involved.” Burke has faced criticism for allegedly ignoring July recommendations from government antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal.

Investigators are examining whether authorities failed to flag the alleged shooters’ activities during a month-long trip to extremism hotspots in the southern Philippines, where credit card transactions should have triggered alerts under money laundering laws.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced Wednesday that state parliament will be recalled Dec. 22-23 to pass urgent legislation tightening gun laws and restricting mass protests in response to Sunday’s deadly terrorism attack at Bondi that killed 13 people.

The proposed legislation includes capping firearm ownership, reclassifying certain shotguns, and removing appeal pathways for individuals whose gun licenses are revoked by police. Minns also outlined plans to give police authority to reject protest applications during terrorism designations on grounds they would strain resources and threaten community harmony.

“Protests right now in Sydney would be incredibly terrible for our community,” Minns said. “My worry is about what’s happening in Sydney right now. My concern is that a mass demonstration in this combustible situation with our multicultural community could light a flame that would be impossible to extinguish.”

Twenty-three people remain hospitalized from the attack. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert will lose sight in one eye from his injuries, while Constable Scott Dyson remains in critical but stable condition following additional surgery Wednesday morning.

Lanyon said the crime scene has taken longer to process than expected and will be returned to the public after Jewish religious processes and fire safety measures are completed. Families of victims will be offered the opportunity to walk through the scene before it reopens.

Minns attended the funeral of Rabbi Ely Wednesday morning and was scheduled to attend Rabbi Yaakov’s service Wednesday afternoon. He described the terrorism attack as “a terrible terrible crime, a shocking tragedy for New South Wales.”

When asked about a potential royal commission into the attack, Minns said the government is “contemplating that at the moment” but noted concerns about interfering with the upcoming criminal prosecution. Charges against the surviving suspect are expected to be laid soon.

The Premier did not comment on a roadmap outlined by former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg earlier in the day, saying he was attending a funeral and had not watched it.

Police conducted a firearms inspection of suspect Naveed Akram’s weapons in December 2023, according to Commissioner Lanyon. ASIO Director-General acknowledged the agency was aware of Akram in 2019, though the extent of information sharing with state police remains under review.

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.

Upgrade to Paid

Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced $140 million in additional security funding for Australia’s Jewish community and backed stronger gun control measures following the Bondi attack that killed 15 people, declaring authorities must take “very substantial steps” to restrict firearm access.

Speaking at a press conference, Chalmers said the funding would supplement existing security measures and include immediate crisis support for Jewish community services. The announcement came as National Cabinet weighs gun control reforms proposed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, including limits on firearm numbers and stricter licensing requirements.

“My personal view is that we need to take very substantial steps to crack down on the way that firearms are held,” Chalmers said, while declining to specify whether he supported proposals to ban gun storage in suburban homes.

The treasurer questioned why individuals in Sydney suburban homes possessed multiple firearms, stating gun control must be pursued “in addition to all of the other necessary steps” to address extremism and security threats.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the government would ensure funding already allocated continues flowing while new resources are deployed. Several million dollars have been earmarked for Jewish House Bondi crisis services, officials said.

Chalmers also defended the government’s economic policies, highlighting three rounds of income tax cuts designed to address bracket creep. He said personal income tax now accounts for approximately 69% of total income tax collections, but argued the cuts demonstrate the government’s commitment to “more people working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn.”

Leave a comment

Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.

Got a News Tip?

Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.

The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we’re able to keep the news flowing freely. If you’re able, please join us in supporting Mencari.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We’d love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.