Politics latest: University of Melbourne, University of Queensland move to end students encampments

Students at Melbourne Uni remain defiant as administrators look to end a three-day sit in, while the University of Queensland says it 'intends to discontinue' the camps. 

Pro Palestine protesters take over the Arts West building at Melbourne UNI Campus. Picture: Jason Edwards

Welcome to The Australian's rolling coverage of Federal Budget 2024 and all the latest news from Canberra and around the country.

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8:59 pm May 17, 2024

Police kill armed man trying to set fire to synagogue in France

Staff writers

French police have shot dead an armed man suspected of setting fire to a synagogue in the city of Rouen.

Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, the mayor of Rouen, thanked emergency services and gave his “full support to the Jewish community of Rouen” in the wake of the attack on Friday morning, local time.

The attacker was reportedly carrying a knife and iron bar, according to local authorities, who confirmed the fire has also been brought under control.

Yonathan Arfi, head of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions, said the “burning down (of) a synagogue is wanting to intimidate all Jews”.

“Fighting anti-Semitism is defending the Republic,” he said in a statement posted to X.

– Elizabeth Pike

6:57 pm May 17, 2024

Parts of New Caledonia 'out of control'

Staff writers

The high commissioner of the Republic of New Caledonia, Louis Le Franc, reports parts of the French territory have “escaped control," as riots escalate and the death toll rises to five people.

The French representative announced on Friday new security deployments would be sent to the capital, Nouméa, to curb unrest, with the number of French police and gendarmes expected to rise from 1700 to 2700 by this evening.

“Reinforcements will be arriving … to control the areas that have escaped us in recent days, where control is no longer assured,” Mr Le Franc told reporters, as reported in The Guardian.

"These are areas where there are several hundred rioters, who are waiting to make contact with the police.

“The first priority is to unblock all the routes. So that carers can get there (to hospitals. The same goes for Caledonians, who need to be taken care of,” he said.

– Elizabeth Pike

6:24 pm May 17, 2024

Bus, truck collide in Sydney's west

Staff writers

At least one man is injured and five other people are being treated by paramedics after a bus and truck collided in Sydney’s west.

According to NSW Ambulance, the “high-speed” crash occurred at about 5pm at the intersection on Davis Road in Wetherill Park.

Police are reportedly trying to establish if one driver ran a red light. It is understood the bus was reportedly T-boned by the truck.

– Elizabeth Pike

5:58 pm May 17, 2024

Released detainee charged in Brisbane, again

Staff writers

A released immigration detainee who was previously charged with failing to comply with curfew conditions has been arrested again on the same charge in Brisbane.

Afghan born Rahmat Ali Haidari, 31, had his case mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday after being taken into custody overnight, The Courier Mail reported.

The Australian Federal Police allege Mr Haidari breached the conditions of his Commonwealth Visa last Saturday (May 11) as he failed to comply with curfew conditions.

Mr Haidari was charged with one count of failing to comply with curfew conditions and the case was adjourned until May 21.

The 31-year-old is understood to be one of 150 detainees released back into the public after a landmark High Court decision in November made it illegal for detainees who could not be deported to be held in custody indefinitely.

He was remanded in custody until Tuesday.

This comes as Mr Haidari was previously granted bail on May 1, on the condition he attends the Logan Central Community Mental Health Centre to take part in a mental health assessment.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and/or a $93,900 fine.

– Mohammad Alfares

5:30 pm May 17, 2024 Highlight

La Trobe Uni orders encampment to be dismantled

Noah Yim

La Trobe University has ordered the pro-Palestine protest encampment to be dismantled, joining a growing list of universities around the country.

"La Trobe University has today issued a directive to organisers of the student protest to disband the encampment currently occupying our Melbourne campus Agora," a university spokesperson said.

"Although the protests at La Trobe have been relatively peaceful and no classes have been interrupted to date, the university has considered the risks associated with the continued encampment activity and has taken this decision in the interests of the safety, wellbeing and amenity of all campus users and visitors.

"La Trobe will continue to accommodate the right of students and staff to protest peacefully and respectfully without an encampment."

5:22 pm May 17, 2024

Gas industry fleecing Australia: Pocock

Staff writers

Senator David Pocock. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Senator David Pocock has taken aim at the government for letting the gas industry "totally fleece" Australia.

The comments come after it was revealed the government collects less money from the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax (PRRT) than the HECs system, despite the gas industry boasting huge profits.

“We're allowing the gas industry to take our gas, export it, not pay us for that gas, and then minimise their tax bills to sometimes below one per cent corporate tax," Senator Pocock said.

"We're getting totally fleeced, and we now have the coalition, Labor, and the Greens who voted for that (PRRT), and I can't understand that.

“I'm going to keep pushing this. Because every dollar that we don't get from our gas – that's Australia's gas. That belongs to all of us. Every dollar we don't get from gas means is a dollar that's not able to be invested in education and health.

“We're an incredibly wealthy country. Why are we just relying so heavily on personal income tax when we have an export gas industry that are just freeloaders?

“They are the ‘leaners’ that Joe Hockey talked about. They're taking our gas for free … and we've got to change that as a country."

– Elizabeth Pike

4:50 pm May 17, 2024

Major parties 'running from' housing crisis

Staff writers

Independent senator David Pocock says the major parties are dodging proper solutions to the housing crisis by avoiding tax system changes.

Senator Pocock told ABC News on Friday the Labor budget and Liberal reply, delivered last night by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, showed both parties were "running" from the issue.

“As Australians, if we want to say housing should be a human right, we should have a housing system where people can afford to rent or buy in their community rather than a housing system that's set up for investment,” he said.

“The major parties talk about home ownership but don't talk about a tax system that sets it up for home ownership.

“To date, the major parties have run from that (tax system).”

– Elizabeth Pike

4:06 pm May 17, 2024

Monash Uni pro-Palestine encampment ends

Noah Yim

Monash University says the pro-Palestine encampment on its campus was willingly packed up earlier this afternoon by encampment organisers. The protesters' reasons are not known.

"Monash University was notified by encampment organisers this afternoon that they planned to pack up the encampment at the Clayton campus," a university spokesperson said.

"All tents, banners and other remnants of the encampment have been removed by the encampment organisers with support from the university.

"We will continue to work with our student and community leaders, and with staff, to ensure safety and security on campus and, importantly, to meet the academic and pastoral needs of our staff and students during this time.

"We thank our campus community including Monash security, as well as Victoria Police, for supporting operations at the Clayton campus and ensuring the safety of all."

3:53 pm May 17, 2024

NSW Premier tips in funds for regional airstrips

Staff writers

NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced regional airstrips will receive a funding boost in the wake of Bonza entering voluntary administration.

Mr Minns announced the $15m investment today as part of a $35m funding pool for regional development.

He said hopes for affordable regional travel lay in the investment package and the opening of Western Sydney airport, which would create more opportunities for airlines to branch out to regional destinations.

“We’re hopeful that with the increased capacity of the second airport in metropolitan Sydney, we can lower the costs across the board,” he told ABC Radio.

“We want to make sure the investment we’re making for regional airstrips is taking place so that we can attract some of these (aviation) firms back into the marketplace.”

– Elizabeth Pike

3:16 pm May 17, 2024 Highlight

Uni of Qld moves to end encampments

Staff writers

A pro-Palestinian poster at the tent cities pitched in the Great Court at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The University of Queensland says it aims to "discontinue the [pro-Palestine] camps as soon as possible", its management says.

The Senate met on Thursday night to discuss the student protests and encampments on site.

The university reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of expression as a foundational principle but noted that this freedom did not extend to actions on university grounds that disrupt the orderly business of the university or posed a risk to the safety of staff or students.

“Nor did freedom of expression extend to speech intended or likely to humiliate, intimidate, harass or bully another person,” a statement released by the University of Queensland said.

“Anti-Semitism and other hate speech has no place on our campus."

"The university’s leadership has regularly checked-in with the leaders of the encampments and consulted with them in an effort to agree on a peaceful end to the occupation of the Great Court which lies at the centre of the campus," chancellor Peter Varghese said on Friday.

"We remain committed to these consultations but we cannot allow the encampments to continue indefinitely.

"With examinations due to commence in the near future the university has an obligation to ensure that they are not at risk of disruption. Senate agreed that the Vice-Chancellor should take all appropriate steps to achieve this."

Vice-chancellor Deborah Terry said the university on Friday advised protesters that the university's objective was "discontinue the camps as soon as possible".

– Noah Yim, Mohammad Alfares