News and politics live updates: Katy Gallagher defends conduct in Higgins case as ‘entirely appropriate’

Anthony Albanese says he has ‘no sympathy’ for Australian doctor and former Islamic State fighter Tarew Kamleh, who was believed to have died in Syria but was last week revealed to be alive in a high-security prison in Iraq.

The Prime Minister told ABC Breakfast the government would not assist Mr Kamleh, also known as ‘Dr Jihad’, to return to Australia.

“We provide no support for people to return home,” the Prime Minister told the program.

“You know, frankly, these are people who’ve made choices and they’re bad choices and they’re not choices in line with Australian values.”

His comments come amid calls from One Nation to introduce legislation preventing Mr Kamleh and other former Islamic State fighters from returning to Australia.

However, Mr Albanese said the government’s ability to stop Australian citizens from returning was limited by the Constitution and the rule of law.

“One of the things that defines us as a country is we support the rule of law,” he added..

“Forty-five men who fought with ISIS returned before we came to government to Australia, and that’s because citizenship does bring certain rights under the constitution.

“And we will do everything we can – of course, within the law though, and we’ll also, of course, provide no support for any of these people to return to Australia.”

Anthony Albanese was forced to defend his government’s decision to end the temporary fuel excise cut, saying it was never intended to be a permanent measure.

The Prime Minister said the government could reconsider the excise relief if the conflict in the Middle East continued for an extended period of time, but stressed motorists had been given “a lot of notice” that the temporary cuts would come to an end.

“What we’ve moved to is permanent cost-of-living support,” he told ABC Breakfast.

“The tax cuts that came in on July 1, the increase in the minimum wage, the move of paid parental leave to six months – all of these measures are making a difference on cost of living.”

Disability advocates are warning people risk being “forgotten” if they are removed from the NDIS under changes designed to claw back savings.

The federal government was hoping to pass changes to the scheme through parliament before the five-week winter break in July, but agreed to delay measures until at least August in a deal with the Greens to get their tax laws over the line.

Under the proposal, more than 100,000 participants would be kicked off the National Disability Insurance Scheme in an attempt to rein in spending.

A parliamentary committee will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Thursday, where a number of disability advocacy groups will give evidence.

Specialist Disability Accommodation Alliance chief executive Jeramy Hope said he genuinely hoped MPs would consider the more than 4000 submissions made to the inquiry.

- with AAP

New Closing the Gap data has revealed the Northern Territory reduced the rate of Aboriginal children being placed in out-of-home care before the death of five-year-old Walpiri girl Kumanjayi Little Baby, despite ongoing concerns over the Territory’s child protection system.

The figures, to be released by the Productivity Commission on Thursday as part of its annual Closing the Gap report, come amid continued scrutiny of child safety in the NT following Kumanjayi Little Baby’s alleged murder, which exposed significant failings within the child-protection system.

The six-year update on the decade-long agreement shows the rate of Indigenous children entering out-of-home care in the NT fell by 6.6 percentage points between 2019 and the latest reporting period. Nationally, the rate increased 4.9 percent over the same tiemframe.

The data predates reforms introduced in July by the Country Liberal Party governemnt, requiring child protection caseworkers to place child safety abve all other considerations.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro is expected to defend the changes at the Garma Festival on Friday, where reforms have faced strong oppositon from Aboriginal leaders.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher was forced to defend her handling of the Brittany Higgins case, maintaining that questions she asked as an opposition senator were justified despite findings that there was no evidence of a cover-up by the Morrison government.

Her comments follow a report by The Australian that the Commonwealth had settled legal action brought by former Liberal staffer Fiona Brown, who served as chief of staff to then defence minister Linda Reynolds when Ms Higgins worked in the office.

The political dispute centred on Labor’s claims that the Morrison government had covered up Ms Higgins’ rape allegation. However, judges have since found there was no evidence of a cover-up, despite those allegations made by the then-opposition.

Speaking to ABC Radio, Senator Gallagher stood by the questions Labor pursued at the time.

“I think the questions we asked during that time were entirely appropriate,” she said.

“When I reflect on that time, I think it was reasonable that opposition senators, in the case of my conduct, asked questions of the government at the time in relation to an alleged rape or a rape that has been found by court that happened in this building in a minister’s office.”

Senator Gallagher had previously declined to comment while Ms Brown’s legal action was before the courts.

A controversial segment on the ABC that depicted violence against billionaire Gina Rinehart has been referred to the Ombudsman by the broadcaster.

Communications Minister Anika Wells finally conceded on Wednesday that it was unacceptable.

“My personal view is it’s unacceptable. Like any Australian, there’s stuff I see on TV that I don’t agree with,” she said.

“As the Minister for Communications, I respect the editorial independence of the ABC, but I understand they have now referred it to the Ombudsman. I think that was the right thing to do.”

The four-minute film broadcast was part of the ABC’s Race Around The World series.

The film ended with a graphic description of violence directed towards Ms Rinehart.

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Donald Trump has unleashed a foul-mouthed threat against Iran after Tehran launched ballistic missiles at a US airbase in Jordan, prompting a joint American and Saudi response.

Speaking to Fox News, the US President vowed further action would be taken if attacks on American forces continued.

“We’re going to beat the f..king s..t out of them ,” Mr Trump said.

“We’ll be hitting them hard. They’re going to get a beating.”

Mr Trump said every missile fired towards the American airbase in Jordan had been intercepted before reaching its target.

The threat came as the US and Saudi Arabia ended a four-day pause in military action, carrying out their first coordinated strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

On Tuesday local time, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American and Saudi Arabian forces carried out precision airstrikes on targets in eastern Iraq linked to Iran-backed groups.

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