Good afternoon. Universities and artists would have funding withheld if they fail to act against antisemitism, AI tools would be banned from sharing Jewish hatred, and the government would have new grounds to deport visitors under a wide-ranging plan presented to the prime minister by Australia’s antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal.
“There is no place in Australia for antisemitism. The kind of hatred and violence that we have seen on our streets recently is despicable and it won’t be tolerated and I want those responsible to face the full force of the law,” Anthony Albanese said on Thursday morning.
The government has not committed to the plan in full, but Albanese indicated he was open to parts of it, saying some components could be implemented quickly.
Albanese denied the plan would limit legitimate criticism of the Israeli government, including its military actions in Gaza and the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians, despite the report recommending all levels of government adopt a contested definition of antisemitism which critics say conflates antisemitism with criticism of Israel. The executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia, Dr Max Kaiser, said the document reads “more like a blueprint for silencing dissent rather than a strategy to build inclusion”.
Top news
Teen surfer found on remote island 14km off coast after going missing from NSW beach
Landmark ruling finds Russia shot down MH17 with 38 Australians on board
Trump announces 50% tariff on Brazil, citing a ‘witch-hunt’ against Bolsonaro
US issues sanctions against Francesca Albanese, UN official investigating abuses in Gaza
Discovery of ancient riverbeds suggests Mars once wetter than thought
In video
About 300 people gathered outside Melbourne’s oldest bookshop, Hill of Content, to help it move to its new location just 130 metres down the road. The store first opened in 1922 and the three-storey heritage-listed building it occupied for 103 years was sold for $5.3m last year, with the bookshop’s owners forced to start searching for a new home. Diana Johnson, who owns Hill of Content with her husband, Duncan Johnson, said the human chain would pass 17,000 books up to the new store.
What they said …
***
“We’ve got a bipartisan approach to our PBS. It underpins our universal healthcare system. Makes sure no matter who you are in Australia, can access great world-class leading drugs for your family’s health.” – Bridget McKenzie
The Nationals senator said both sides of Australian politics were united in response to Donald Trump’s proposed 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals. Anthony Albanese said the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, media bargaining code and biosecurity laws “are not on the table for negotiations” with the US.
In numbers
The Trump administration is reportedly planning to cut at least 2,145 high-ranking Nasa employees with specialised skills or management responsibilities, as part of a push to slash the size of the federal government through early retirement, buyouts and deferred resignations. According to leaked documents, most employees leaving are in senior-level government ranks, with 1,818 of the staff currently serving in core mission areas, like science or human space flight, while the others work in mission support roles including information technology, or IT.
Before bed read
Thomas Vowles: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)
The author gives us a taste of his eclectic online presence – from Brazilian advertisements to a perennial Lindsay Lohan clipping.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: DIB. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know with our Morning Mail newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
