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Today's reading time is 7 minutes. - Miko Santos
Albanese Faces Labor Backlash Over Immigration Rally Comments as Political Tensions Rise
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is confronting internal party criticism after defending his characterization of "good people" among Sunday's anti-immigration rally attendees. Labor MP Ed Husic, Australia's first Muslim federal parliamentarian, directly challenged the Prime Minister's language, telling the ABC he "hasn't seen a good fascist yet" and describing the rallies as events "whipped up by far-right extremists and neo-Nazis" that deliberately targeted Indian Australians. The pushback has exposed growing unease within Labor ranks, with MPs like Mary Doyle privately questioning Albanese's phrasing during caucus meetings.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong escalated the government's response with a personal Senate speech condemning the scapegoating of migrants for issues like the housing crisis. Drawing on her own multicultural heritage spanning Malaysia, China, and South Australia's early settlers, Wong declared that "Neo-Nazis and anti-immigration rallies are not who we are" and called such rhetoric both unfair and dangerous. The controversy has also affected the Liberal Party, with Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price walking back her initial accusations that the government encouraged Indian migration for electoral gain.
In a separate development, the Albanese government reversed course on aged care policy, agreeing to roll out 20,000 new in-home care packages before November following sustained political pressure. The decision comes as nearly 87,000 approved Australians remain on waiting lists, with critics highlighting that approximately 5,000 people died last year while awaiting care. Opposition senators, Greens, and crossbench members like David Pocock successfully forced the policy backflip, though advocates argue the response remains insufficient given that over 121,000 people still await assessment.
Meanwhile, former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has drawn federal government clarification after being photographed at a Chinese military parade alongside Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un. Officials emphasized that Andrews attended as a private citizen without consulting Canberra, though critics warn the optics could complicate Australia's delicate diplomatic balance with China. The incident occurs as Beijing has recently lifted trade tariffs on Australian exports including lobsters and wine, highlighting the ongoing challenges in managing the bilateral relationship between economic cooperation and security concerns.
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