As it happened: Israel condemned by federal government, Australian allies over Gaza aid deaths; Labor grilled on Xi meeting

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Here’s a recap of today’s biggest stories:

• Politicians have descended on Parliament House in Canberra for the first sitting week of the new term. Labor’s Milton Dick was re-elected as Speaker of the House, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised his former political adversary Peter Dutton for respecting the peaceful transition of power after the Coalition’s thumping electoral loss. Maverick Queensland MP Bob Katter refused to swear allegiance to King Charles, in contravention of the traditions of the federal parliament. New MPs began delivering their maiden speeches, and Labor is expected to begin tabling new legislation from tomorrow.
• Among the MPs who made their maiden speeches, were Ali France, who defeated Peter Dutton, and Sarah Witty, who edged out Adam Bandt in the seat of Melbourne.
• The government has called for an immediate ceasefire in the war in Gaza and criticised Israel’s delivery of humanitarian aid in a joint statement alongside 24 other countries. The letter, signed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, said Israel’s aid delivery model was dangerous and deprives Gazans of human dignity. The letter follows repeated attacks on Palestinians seeking aid.
• Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi staged a protest during the governor-general’s address to both houses holding a sign which read: “Gaza is starving. Words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel”. As Anthony Albanese exited the Senate, Faruqi also called out: “Prime minister, Gaza is starving, will you sanction Israel?” Outside Parliament House, Pro-Palestine protesters called for Australia to place sanctions on Israel. A group of 15 protesters was held at Parliament House after being removed from the Queen’s Terrace at the building’s entrance.

A newly elected Labor MP has reflected on how Pauline Hanson’s infamous comment that Australia was in danger of being “swamped by Asians” as influential in his path to politics.

Hanson made the comment in her 1996 maiden speech to parliament as the then-member for Oxley.

Anthony Albanese on the hustings with new Labor MP Gabriel Ng during the election campaign. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“For the first time, I felt there were some in the population, maybe a sizeable number, who considered me less Australian because of my race,” said Gabrielle Ng, who is of Chinese-Singaporean descent and represents the multicultural seat of Menzies in Melbourne’s north-east.

“I raise Miss Hanson’s ... speech not to elicit sympathy, but to remind all of us in this house, if we needed any reminding, that what we do in this place matters. Not only in the legislation we pass, but in the words we speak.

“We have one of the most powerful platforms in the nation, and I urge all of us in this parliament to turn away from opportunistic division and embrace and tell the story of modern Australia as it is.”

Anne Urquhart, who served as a senator from 2010 until stepping down earlier this year to contest the seat of Braddon in north-west Tasmania, has delivered her maiden speech in the House of Representatives.

The prime minister himself encouraged Urquhart to quit her role in the Senate and contest the seat, which she won from Liberal MP Gavin Bruce.

Labor MP Anne Urquhart with the prime minister in May. Credit: James Brickwood

“My time in the Senate is something I will treasure forever,” Urquhart said in her maiden speech. “Well, here I am now on this side.”

She emphasised that she believed Tasmania had the potential to become a clean-energy powerhouse with hydroelectric dams dotted along the Apple Isle’s west coast. “But we have so much more opportunity in this area,” she said. “I am passionate about ensuring we have the opportunity to pursue renewable energy further.”

Urquhart concluded her speech by promising to represent the people of Braddon with passion and energy.

Sarah Witty, the Melbourne MP who defeated Greens leader Adam Bandt, has highlighted housing affordability as a key area of concern.

“Most of Melbourne’s high-density suburbs sit right here in the seat of Melbourne, and that places us at the very heart of the housing crisis,” said Witty.

Sarah Witty, who defeated former Greens leader Adam Bandt in the seat of Melbourne in May 2025. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“The crisis didn’t happen overnight. It is a result of under-investment from previous governments and blocking of good housing policies that has slowed progress and kept supply dangerously low. You must confront this crisis now with honesty and urgency and courage.”

Witty singled out the inner-city suburbs of Melbourne as particularly worrisome, declaring that it should not become a “playground for the wealthy”.

“Safe, secure housing is not a luxury, it’s a human right. Today, it’s harder than ever to get into the housing market. Skyrocketing prices and shrinking availability have locked countless people out of the quest to own their own home … This is not just a setback, it’s a crisis.”

The first new MP to deliver a speech in the House of Representatives was Ali France, who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton.

She was followed by Sarah Witty, the Labor MP who defeated former Greens leader Adam Bandt in the seat of Melbourne.

Member for Dickson Ali France (left) and Member for Melbourne Sarah Witty.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

“Thank you to my predecessor Adam Bandt, I acknowledge your service to our community,” Witty said in her opening remarks.

Witty also described the struggles she endured in trying to conceive children with her husband, and the role this played in her pursuit of politics.

“For us to become parents we did not follow the well-worn path,” she said. “We weren’t blessed with an easy journey. Over 10-plus years, we endured heartbreak after heartbreak, pregnancy after pregnancy ending in loss.”

Eventually, she became a foster parent to children and said from this experience she has gained a valuable perspective on how to advocate and care for vulnerable people.

“I believe in an Australia where every person has a safe and secure home, where education is free, healthcare is universal, and no one is left behind,” she said.

New Labor MP Ali France has paid tribute to her late son Henry, who died from leukemia, and said he was instrumental in her win over Peter Dutton in the seat of Dickson.

“The 2025 election was obviously my best,” said France. “And that is quite a bizarre thing because behind the curtain I was grieving and desperately wanting to hold my son Henry.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese embraces Ali France after her maiden speech. Credit: Getty Images

France detailed how, in the week before his death in February last year, Henry slept beside her.

“I watched him breathe all night, in awe of him, able to smile despite unbelievable pain and never-ending hospital stays and treatments,” said an emotional France. “I am so, so grateful for those hours.

“He told me many times that this election was my time, he was convinced I would win and said a number of times ‘don’t make me the excuse for you not doing important things’. His words, his courage were with me every ay of the campaign. Henry was instrumental in getting me to this place.”

After delivering her speech, the chamber erupted into applause and France was embraced by her Labor colleagues, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Read Brittany Busch’s full report here.

Ali France, the Labor MP who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton, has delivered her maiden speech to parliament, paying tribute to her supporters and son Henry, who died of leukemia last year.

“My journey to this place is not a sad story, nor is it a happy one,” said France. “It is a human story.”

Summing up her underdog win against “one of the most prolific politicians of our time”, she also reflected on her son’s death.

Member for Dickson Ali France delivering her maiden speech. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“Highly unlikely was also how the doctors described the death of my darling boy, Henry, from leukemia last year, aged 19, despite the very best public health care. He is not with us, and he is so desperately missed.”

In a humorous nod to her amputated left leg, which she lost in a car accident, France said: “People often ask, how are you standing? I say, ‘on one leg’.”

She paid tribute to the trauma surgeon who saved her life by amputating her leg.

“Everyone in my life remembers the day I was supposed to die. I lived thanks to trauma surgeon Professor Martin Wullschleger and his team, and the bravery of strangers,” she said.

France also described growing up surrounded by the Labor values of economic and social justice. She said this was most keenly shown in her father, Peter Lawlor, a Labor MP who served for more than a decade in the Queensland state parliament as the MP for Southport.

Read more on Ali France’s maiden speech here.

Speaker of the House Milton Dick has confirmed that discussions have taken place regarding action to be taken against Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi, after she protested during the governor-general’s address to MPs this afternoon.

During the governor-general’s speech to both houses, Faruqi held up a sign which said: “Gaza is starving. Words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel.” As Anthony Albanese exited the Senate, Faruqi called out: “Prime minister, Gaza is starving, will you sanction Israel?”

Greens deputy Mahreen Faruqi protests during the governor-general’s address. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Wannon MP Dan Tehan said the protest was disorderly and disrespectful and asked Dick whether he would speak with the president of the Senate to see what action could be taken against Faruqi.

“Those discussions have already taken place,” Dick replied.

Labor MP Sharon Claydon has been re-elected deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, defeating Coalition MP Terry Young in a ballot 98-47.

Claydon was first elected to parliament in 2013 and was lauded by colleague Tim Watts as an MP held in the highest regard.

“She’s the kind of parliamentarian that you measure yourself against, the kind of MP you feel proud to serve with in this place,” Watts told the chamber.

Labor MP Sharon Claydon in 2021. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

As new MPs prepare to deliver their maiden speeches to parliament, the Senate is set to pass a condolence motion to acknowledge the death of Pope Francis.

The motion was moved by Labor’s deputy leader of the Senate Don Farrell, who said Francis was determined to leave the world a kinder place.

Don Farrell (third from left) in Rome before the Pope’s funeral.

“I move that the Senate records its sadness as to the death … of his Holiness Pope Francis,” said Farrell, who attended Francis’ funeral in April.

“True to the sprit of his namesake, he embodied humility and solidarity with the poor.”

Opposition leader of the Senate Michaelia Cash said: “May his soul rest in peace, may his example continue to inspire future generations and may we all … strive to build a world where kindness triumphs over cruelty.”