TRANSCRIPT
- The federal government considers overhaul of the immigration Points Test system.
- The Westfield Bondi attack's 'bollard man' looking forward to life returning to normal.
- Recently retired AFL player Nathan Murphy says education will help prevent future concussions.
The federal government has released a discussion paper on reform of the Points Test that forms part of the capped permanent skilled migration program - and which has not been updated in 12 years.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil says public feedback is being sought on the proposals, following recommendations made in the Migration Review led by Martin Parkinson.
Almost two-thirds of permanent skilled migrants are selected through the Points Test.
The migration review found the Points Test should focus on the characteristics associated with migrants finding skilled work - and not drive not drive so-called permanent temporariness.
Ms O'Neil says the Australian National University has been commissioned to analyse the factors that drive success in Australia - as part of the goal of improving the skilled migration system.
Community feedback is being sought in response to the discussion paper until the 24th May.
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The French construction worker who fended off the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attacker says he is looking forward to life returning to some form of normalcy, after his act of bravery catapulted him into the public eye.
CCTV footage shows Damien Guerot confronting Joel Cauchi on an escalator - using a bollard - in the shopping centre.
The act has seen him dubbed "bollard man" and now granted permanent residency, after living in Australia for eight years.
He told SBS French it has been a long road to get to this point.
"To get permanent residency in A ustralia, for some it’s a walk in the park and for others, it’s a real quest! I did two years of working holidays, had to work in farms, then I had to get a student visa for five years, and then a COVID visa, while I was preparing a skilled visa…which is why I still can't believe I’ve got permanent residency. I’ve wanted it for a very long time and I feel incredibly lucky, especially because it was granted by the Prime Minister, but I can’t celebrate it, because at the same time, there are families grieving. So it’s a weird feeling. On one side I’m happy and on other, there is how I got it, so it’s really a weird feeling."
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The eSafety Commissioner has threatened social media site X with hefty fines, if the company continues fighting an order to take down videos relating to the Sydney church stabbing.
An initial court hearing has ruled in favour of the eSafety Commissioner, giving X until today at 5pm to hide the posts relating to the Wakeley stabbing.
The company says it has complied with the order temporarily while the matter is fought in the courts.
Owner Elon Musk says he takes issue with a global takedown due to concerns over free speech.
The federal opposition spokesman for foreign affairs, Simon Birmingham, told Sky News there is bipartisan support for the position that X should remove the harmful material.
"We will support legitimate free speech but ultimately these freedoms do have limits when it comes to content and information that can be harmful. And in this type of case, images such as he stabbing of Bishop Emmanuel are not only disturbing in and of themselves. But they are frequently used by people to stir up trouble in communities through coupling of disinformation, misinformation with that imagery."
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The Israeli military has ordered fresh evacuations in northern Gaza, warning civilians they are in a dangerous combat zone.
But humanitarian workers say they have no knowledge of plans to evacuate Palestinians, with Red Cross officials telling AFP such a transfer would not be possible under the current conditions.
Israeli strikes have intensified across Gaza with residents reporting some of the heaviest shelling in weeks.
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More than 250 years after they were first taken, four spears stolen by Captain James Cook and his crew after they arrived at Botany Bay, have been repatriated to their traditional owners.
Representatives of the La Perouse Aboriginal Community traveled to Cambridge University in England where the artifacts, known as the ‘Gweagal Spears’ had been kept since 1771.
It follows a 30-year campaign to see the spears returned to country.
Noeleen Timbery represents the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council:
"It’s a very important chapter in the story of our community. In the story of our ancestors. And bringing these, as I call them, survivors from a moment in time… the shared history of our country… they’re very important to us as a community, they’re important to all of Australia."
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Recently retired AFL player Nathan Murphy says education will help prevent concussions in the next generation of Aussie rules players.
Murphy stepped away from AFL on medical advice last week after multiple concussions sustained playing the game.
He says education is the key to addressing concussions at a grassroots level and backs calls for the federal government to invest in awareness and support programs.
"We learn our behaviours from a young age; and they're ingrained in us. So as much as we can reach those younger year levels and younger ages, it's all they'll ever know for the future; and all they'll know in terms of how to play this sport. So if we can educate them and really get that into their training from a young age, I believe we'll still be able to play this game like we play it."
