Good afternoon. The federal MP Bob Katter has distanced himself from a neo-Nazi group that claimed ownership of a megaphone he used briefly at a Townsville rally against mass immigration, with the veteran politician claiming he has been the victim of “bullying” in the media.
Photos and video from Sunday’s rally show Katter speaking into a microphone attached to a black megaphone bullhorn held by another man. The bullhorn, covered in white runic markings, was later referred to on the messaging app Telegram as “the NSN rune megaphone” by a prominent member of neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network. A similar megaphone was seen being held by NSN members in Melbourne on Sunday.
“There was a person there with a speakerphone, which we used because we didn’t have one ourselves – so that’s about the extent of the relationship,” his son Robbie Katter told the ABC.
Nick Dametto, a Katter’s Australian party MP, said in a statement that Katter’s Australian party “do not stand for neo-Nazi values, and do not have any relationship with the men alluded to”.
Meanwhile, Jacinta Allan said she was “unharmed and undeterred” after the NSN’s leader, Thomas Sewell, ambushed the Victorian premier in the middle of a media conference shouting abuse.
“It comes as no surprise that Nazis oppose me and my government. I wear that as a badge of honour,” Allan said.
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In pictures
Beachgoers in Melbourne have been treated to the “cosmic and magical” sight of bioluminescent algae off St Kilda beach this week. The natural phenomenon, known as “sea sparkles” or “red tide”, is caused by an algae called noctiluca scintillans: beautiful to look at but potentially irritating to fish due to high levels of ammonia and reduced oxygen levels in the water.
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Australia’s ‘secret’ deportation deal with Nauru
Ben Doherty speaks to Nour Haydar about why critics have labelled the government’s plan to deport people to its Pacific neighbour “disgraceful and dangerous”. Anthony Albanese has insisted there’s “nothing secret” about a $400m deal with Nauru to offload hundreds of non-citizens to the tiny Pacific island as questions mount over the agreement’s fine print.
What they said …
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“When a rizz-less, aura-less, unc prime minister is running the show, a chopped government is what follows.” – Fatima Payman
The Labor turned independent senator added some extra brain rot to her Senate speech on AI safety. Payman said Labor was still “capping” (which means lying, in gen Z speak) and called Anthony Albanese an “unc” prime minister (basically an out of touch uncle). Labor’s government was “so performative”, she said.
Speaking of gen Z and cringe …
Before bed read
Dear gen Z, take a lesson from this zillennial: to be cringe is to be free
As the internet’s apex predator, zoomers are terrified of being seen as anything but a specific type of curated cool. It’s time they learned to live, laugh, love, writes Eleanor Burnard.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: MOE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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