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Australia news live: police to investigate Gaza flotilla activist allegations; Victorian law set to enshrine right to WFH
TL;DR
The Australian federal police will investigate allegations of abuse and sexual assault against Israeli authorities made by Australian activists from the Global Sumud flotilla. The inquiry follows a meeting with Penny Wong and other officials, although no formal crime report has been submitted yet.
Key points
- Australian federal police to investigate flotilla activists' allegations
- Allegations include abuse, torture, and sexual assault by Israeli authorities
- Penny Wong met with activists to discuss their experiences
Mentioned in this story
Australian federal policePenny WongGlobal Sumud flotillaAnne AlyItamar Ben-Gvir
The Australian federal police will begin conducting “inquiries” into abuse and sexual assault allegations made against Israeli authorities by Australian members of the Global Sumud flotilla after meeting Penny Wong yesterday afternoon.
The AFP confirmed it had met members in the group at Parliament House and “has begun inquiries into allegations made by a representative of the group”.
Guardian Australia understands a report of crime has not yet been formally submitted, which would trigger a formal look into the allegations alleging they were abused, tortured and, in some cases, sexually assaulted by Israeli authorities while detained after attempting to deliver aid to the occupied Palestinian territory.
Wong, multicultural affairs minister Anne Aly, and senior AFP officers met the group to “listen to them directly about their experiences”, a spokesperson for Wong said.
The minister has condemned the actions of Israeli authorities and Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has already sanctioned, the spokesperson said.
She raised the allegations multiple times and made clear directly to Israel that Australia expects an “independent, transparent investigation”.
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.
The Australian federal police will investigate alleged abuse and sexual assault by Israeli security forces against Australian members of the Global Sumud flotilla, it was announced last night. More coming up.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, will today introduce legislation to parliament to guarantee the right to work from home two days a week, including for part-time workers and regular casuals.
Plus, today the Reserve Bank announces its latest decision on which direction interest rates will move: but everyone’s expecting them to stay the same.
Explore more on these topics
Q&A
What allegations are being investigated by the Australian federal police?
The Australian federal police are investigating allegations of abuse, torture, and sexual assault made against Israeli authorities by members of the Global Sumud flotilla.
Who is Penny Wong and what role did she play in this investigation?
Penny Wong is the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, and she met with members of the flotilla to discuss their experiences and facilitate the inquiry into their allegations.
What actions have been condemned by Australian officials regarding Israeli authorities?
Australian officials, including Penny Wong and multicultural affairs minister Anne Aly, have condemned the actions of Israeli authorities and specifically called out Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
