Australian news and politics live updates: Anthony Albanese defends decision on new hate crime laws

The United States must make the first move in improving ties with Russia after years of failing to listen to the Kremlin and misguided policies intended to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Moscow, a senior Russian diplomat says.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also said it was wrong to base a foreign policy on the need to “come to an agreement with the White House at any price.”

Relations between Russia and the United States have plunged to lows not seen in decades over Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But since the election and inauguration of Donald Trump, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has made a point of describing the US president as smart and pragmatic and said he would like to meet him soon.

In a commentary on the Foreign Ministry website, Ryabkov said the Kremlin had long sought to be a partner with the West, “but no one was listening or, in theory, wanted to listen.

“And that is because the underlying aim was to weaken the geopolitical rival to the maximum,” he said.

Russia, he said, had regained “its lawful place in world geopolitics by frustrating the plans of Joe Biden’s administration ... to inflict a ‘strategic defeat’ on Moscow in a hybrid war ‘to the last Ukrainian.’”

“Against the background of this failed policy and with the change of administration, it is the United States that must take the first step in normalising relations on the basis of mutual respect and equal rights,” Ryabkov wrote.

-- Reuters

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It was inevitable that reporters would turn to the decision by the Labor party in Canberra to spear through new laws around mandatory sentencing for hate crimes.

“We made sure we have strong legislation. We’re the first government to introduce legislation about Nazis, and other hate symbols,” Mr Albanese said.

“We did that last year. We’re strengthening the legislation today. We want people who are engaged in anti-Semitic activities to be caught, to be charged and put in the clink.

“That’s my priority.”

David Crisafulli has sent crews and his ministers out into the field to try and repair elctricity supplies to the hardest hit areas in the Quensland floods

“I’ve asked the Energy Minister to get on the ground and he’s walked the train line as well and we’ve got best loads of resources going in there.”

“There is a slim chance we can get power back to Ingham today, a slim chance.

“If that was to happen, that would be a reconnection in half the time that I have ever seen it before.

“To have a substation go offline and to be talking about bringing it on within a week is something I’ve never seen before. But that something is only achievable because of the predeployment of staff and the effort of those Ergon crews.”

“The Herbert (river) remains at levels the likes of which I never thought I’d see,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“It remains stubbornly high and with that comes a real challenge in the clean-up and also some real risk of damage to property, business and agriculture and it shows the kind of challenges that the north have in the weeks, months and years ahead.

Trump’s call for a radical new approach to Gaza was all about getting a deal done, not about building a new Trump Tower on the Gold Coast of the Middle East.

It was a classic Texas hold’em move to up the ante.

His point that Gaza is a demolition site unfit for human habitation after the devastation brought to it by Hamas is indisputable.

But the rush of the left wing media to call the President’s plan to raze what’s left of Gaza and resettle its Palestinian inhabitants elsewhere “ethnic cleansing” and “imperialism” was all too predictable and was exactly the attention Trump wanted to bring to the issue.

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Queensland’s Premier has spoken passionately about his state’s heartbreak during rhe current flood event and the pain still to come.

“To have three levels of government of different political persuasions all pulling in one direction shows everything you need to know about what communities deserve in their hours of need and I can tell you this is in its hour of need,” David Crisafulli said.

“A new wave of monsoonal rains is coming in the next few days, the bureau has reported.

“We must remain alert, particularly in the area between Ingham and Bowen.

“Those conditions exist and you only had to see some of the showers this morning to understand the real threat that remains.”

“It’s been a great honour to meet these service personnel and to Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Mitchell, who has shown us around here today from the barracks and for his team, they are doing extraordinary engineering work.”

“As we have been here, we’ve seen the rolling-out of the immediate fixing of this bridge (ourside Townsville), so that supplies can get through.

“Now, that’s just stage 1, stage 2 will be to put in a temporary bridge so that people will be able to move up and down this highway, but, importantly as well, we need to build back better.”

The PM has also announced a relief package to assist farmers and local buniesses to get back on theor feet.

“This morning we also announced that we’re co-funding disaster loans for North Queensland farmers, small business andnot-for-profits,” Mr Albanese said.

“Loans have been activated for Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, PalmIsland, Townsville and Yarrabah and will provide up to $250,000 for eligible primary producers and small businesses and to provide up to$100,000 for eligible not-for-profits, so they can re-establish themselves by covering costs.”

The Prime Minister has announced an inital flood relief package for residents and businesses affected by the flood crisis.

“We’re announcing $8 million, co-funded community relief fund, providing up to $1 million for the Local Government Associations, eight of them, that are impacted by this flooding event.”

“This will provide councils with financial assurance that they need to get on with the business of cleaning up and making their communities safe.

“From 2pm today, we’ll be activating the Australian government disaster recovery payment.

“This provides $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for children who, for affected people in the localities of Cardwell and Giru and the local government area of Hinchinbrook.

“This funding is to help people who have suffered serious damage or injury as a result of the the floods and to help with the recovery.”

Anthony Albanese is in north Queenland and has praised the local communities for their resilience in the face of the terrible flood crisis.

“At the worst of times, what we see is the best of the Australian character,” Mr Albanese said.

“And here, what we see is Queenslanders, whether they be emergency services personnel, whether they be our police and Fire Services, the volunteers through the SES and, of course, our Australian Defence Force personnel, particularly those based at the barracks here in Townsville.

“Right throughout Australia, we’ve had choppers come from Oki and Townsville and what we’re seeing here are through three levels of government and the community is working together to get through what is a really tough time.”