Good morning .
It’s Caitlin Cassidy here to guide you through today’s news.
The Coalition has accused the prime minister of having “shut down debate” at Labor’s national conference on issues such as Aukus and Israel and Palestine because he wants to avoid exposing the “deep divisions” within the party. It comes as Ed Husic’s push for Labor to recognise claims of genocide against Israel failed, prompting the backbencher to criticise the party’s culture under Anthony Albanese.
South Australia has two more suspected cases of deadly H5 bird flu, marking a possible escalation in the disease’s presence in the state. Seventeen cases of H5N1 have now been confirmed nationally, with only one so far in a local bird.
And the energy minister, Chris Bowen, has assured Australians that fuel supply remains “solid and secure” as the drawn-out Middle East conflict pushes global crude back above $US100 a barrel.
If you’d like to get in touch, I’m on caitlin.cassidy@theguardian.com.
Let’s get into it!
PM says Labor’s platform on Israel and Palestine has ‘got the balance right’
Still on Labor’s national conference, Anthony Albanese was pointed to his former minister, Ed Husic, whose push for Labor to recognise claims of a genocide against Israel failed amid resistance from factional powerbrokers.
On Saturday, the former industry minister said he doesn’t “give a shit” if senior colleagues freeze him out for constantly breaking ranks, and vowed to keep speaking about contentious issues.
Asked if the PM wanted to avoid debate over the floor of the conference on whether Israel had committed genocide, Albanese said there had been “contributions”, including from Josh Burns.
We want to see a two-state solution … And we want to see that issue advanced … The party platform has got the balance right. And what we need to do to is make sure that we as a a country – this is a conflict that is far away from us – but that everything that we do is balanced … We want to see that coming together and Australia play a role in promoting harmony rather than conflict. And that is role I want our government to continue to play.
Asked if Husic was “helping or hurting” the Labor party, Albanese said he had a right, as did every delegate, to attend and use their voice.
That’s fine by me … I’ve no problem with any delegate to the conference having their say and making their contribution … David, this is the most transparent political conference in Australia by far … We’re a transparent party. It’s broadcast live.
PM says Australia could ‘lead the world’ in AI safety
The PM was also asked a bit of a philosophical question about artificial intelligence, and whether he was worried about it reaching the point where it’s making autonomous decisions and “doing its own thing”.
Anthony Albanese replied: “Of course”.
This is one of the reasons why we need to have Australian standards for AI and to shape change. AI is here. It’s having an impact on the way that we work, on the way that the media functions, as well. And we need to make sure that humans are in control of it.
Albanese said Australia could “lead the world” with its national standards on AI, including for national security issues.
These are complex issues. One the reasons why I will take the issues to National Cabinet next month in August. We’ll develop legislation that I’ll introduce at the beginning of next year.
Seev More
