TRANSCRIPT
- Calls for public servants to take security more seriously on social media profiles
- France moves to enshrine the right to abortion in its Constitution
- Beijing named as host of the 2027 World Athletics Championships
The Coalition has called for public officials to be more vigilant about national security risks, after ASIO revealed public servants and government contractors are being targeted by foreign spy services online.
The Opposition's spokesman for Home Affairs James Paterson says an estimated 14,000 Australians have their security clearance listed on one professional networking site.
Mr Paterson says that behaviour needs to stop.
"Clearly there are people who are still behaving in a naive way. If you advertise your security clearance on LinkedIn, that is basically putting up a billboard for a Foreign Intelligence Service saying please contact me; I have sensitive information that I could share with you. There is no reason to publicly advertise it except put your own interests, your personal interests, ahead of the national interest."
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Australia is sending extra defence force personnel to the Red Sea region as Houthi rebels continue their attacks.
Six members will be deployed to the headquarters of US and UK military units who are striking targets in Yemen.
The US has been carrying out near-daily attacks against the Iran-linked Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and have said their attacks on shipping are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has told Channel 7 that this latest commitment is separate but just as important as the deployment of up to 16 personnel to the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain, under Operation Manitou.
"Both efforts are directed about maintaining freedom of navigation, freedom of shipping in the Red Sea. But clearly the strikes on the Houthi bases is a step up in action, but one that we believe is very important, which is why we are making sure we are supporting the US and the UK in that action."
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France's Senate has adopted a bill to enshrine a woman’s right to an abortion in the constitution.
The vote advances a promise made by President Emmanuel Macron in response to a rollback in abortion rights in the United States, because France's lower house - the National Assembly - overwhelmingly approved the proposal in January.
It means the measure now goes before a joint session of parliament for its expected approval by a three-fifths majority next week.
Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti says the vote is historic.
"We will be the first country in the world to enshrine in the Constitution the freedom for women to have control over their own bodies. This vote reiterates to those who don't know it yet that women in our country are free. This vote reiterates how attached we all are to this freedom."
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Beijing has been selected to host the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
Their selection follows the withdrawal of the Italian athletics federation from contention, after failing to receive final support for its bid from the government.
China will also host next year's World Indoor Athletics Championships in Nanjing.
