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Good morning.
We’ll be taking over the newsletter this week while Billi is away, and it is set to be a significant one.
In Australia, we’re only five days away from our first referendum since 1999. We’ve been posting a series called ‘Understanding the Voice’ to help cut through the noise - watch episodes one and two here, and look out for the third and final episode later today. If you still have questions, we’ve got an event tonight in Sydney with two First Nations journalists who will help answer those questions.
Looking overseas, the weekend (and no doubt the weeks to come) have been defined by growing conflict in Israel and Gaza. We’ve got the latest a bit further down - but this story changes on an almost minute-by-minute basis so please continue to seek information throughout the day.
Take care while navigating the news this week, wherever you are.
I've got 10 seconds
The quote
"The system was put in place so that we could allow people to come back into Australia in extremely difficult circumstances, and the quarantine payment issue could be sorted at a later date. Well, that date is today, and unfortunately the government needs that money to run essential services in the state.” - NSW Premier Chris Minns, speaking yesterday as around 5,000 residents had money taken from their bank accounts to settle outstanding debts from hotel quarantine stays during the COVID pandemic.
The stat
2,000
The latest death toll from an earthquake in Afghanistan that struck over the weekend. The earthquake hit northwest of Herāt, a city in the country's northwest.
Today in history
2012: Education activist Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban. She was 15 at the time. Yousafzai survived the attack and went on to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
I've got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
The Federal Government has announced it will provide free access to the shingles vaccine for eligible Australians. Those who can access the vaccine for free from 1 Nov will include everyone aged 65 years and over, First Nations people 50 years and over, and some immunocompromised people 18 years and over.
Simone Biles has become the most decorated gymnast in history. Biles won her sixth all-around title at the World Championships in Belgium on Friday. The gymnast, who has recently returned after time off to focus on her mental health, said: “It means everything to me, the fight, everything that I've put in to get back to this place, feel comfortable and confident enough to compete."
I've got 1 minute
What’s happened?
On Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise, wide-scale attack on Israel, including both missile attacks and on-the-ground advances.
Since then, at least 700 Israelis and 413 Palestinians have been killed.
Over the weekend, world leaders called for de-escalation of the conflict.
*
According to Israeli officials, over 700 Israelis have been killed by Hamas. Up to 1,590 people are injured.
Mohammed Deif, a senior Hamas leader, called for a general uprising against Israel in a recorded message on Saturday, saying "if you have a gun, get it out. This is the time to use it — get out with trucks, cars, axes."
A number of Israeli citizens and soldiers have been taken hostage by Hamas forces. While the exact number is not known, Hamas has confirmed it has taken the hostages back to Gaza, including some who were taken hostage at a music festival near the Gaza border.
At least 260 Israelis have been killed at a music festival near the Gaza border. Videos circulating on social media also show some festival-goers taken hostage by Hamas.
*
Following the attacks on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel was "at war" and said: "We will bring the fight to them with might and scale which the enemy has not yet known."
According to Palestinian officials, over 413 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces. Al Jazeera has reported 2,300 injuries so far.
In a televised address on the weekend, Netanyahu told citizens of Gaza to "leave now". Israel will stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, according to a statement from Israel's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.
How has Australia responded?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted to X, saying: "Australia stands with our friend Israel in this time. We condemn the indiscriminate and abhorrent attacks by Hamas on Israel, its cities and civilians. We recognise Israel’s right to defend itself."
Foreign Minister Penny Wong added: "Australia urges the exercise of restraint & protection of civilian lives."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has said the Coalition "utterly condemns the unprovoked and abhorrent attack by militant Hamas on Israel."
I've got 2 minutes
The Voice would be a committee that gives advice on First Nations policies. Its members would be chosen by First Nations people.
Similar committees have been set up at least four times before in Australia's history, but none have been enshrined in the Constitution and all have been abolished.
Today, there are a range of First Nations advisory groups, but these are appointed by government ministers, not by First Nations people.
The ‘NACC’
The first elected First Nations body was called the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee (NACC). It was established in 1973 and had 41 members.
There was some confusion about how the NACC should interact with the Government Department of Aboriginal Affairs, and whether it should have decision-making power.
It was replaced in 1977 with the NAC (National Aboriginal Conference).
The ‘NAC’
The NAC was also an elected body and also intended to communicate First Nations peoples' views to the Government.
The NAC campaigned for a treaty between First Nations people and the Government.
It was abolished by the Hawke Government in 1985 with no immediate replacement.
ATSIC
The next attempt was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), set up in 1989. It was given two roles: policy advice and the delivery of some services to First Nations people.
ATSIC had success in employment and housing projects and advocated for legal recognition of traditional ownership under Native Title.
It was abolished by the Howard Government in 2004 following allegations of misconduct against senior officials.
NCAFP
The final attempt was the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (NCAFP) in 2010.
NCAFP was intended to advise government, but was established as an independent corporation. First Nations people could join NCAFP and vote on its representatives. Its membership reached over 9,000 individuals.
The Abbott Government announced in 2013 that funding to NCAFP would be cut and the corporation went into administration in 2019.
Current bodies
There are a range of government advisory bodies currently in existence for First Nations policy areas, including a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group and a Youth Advisory Group.
The members on these bodies are chosen by government ministers, not by First Nations people.
There is also a Government Department called the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), which helps the Government implement First Nations policies. However, this is not a representative body and most of its staff are not First Nations people.
Give me some good news
An endangered Sumatran rhinoceros has been born in Indonesia.
According to a 2019 report from the Indonesian government, there were just 80 Sumatran rhinos left in the world.
On the birth of the new rhinoceros, the Government said: "This is happy news, not only for Indonesia but for the world.”
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A TDA tidbit
NASA’s Artemis III mission will be led in style, with Prada announced as the designer of the new lunar space suits.
The Italian fashion house will be collaborating with Axiom Space, the provider of NASA’s space infrastructure. Prada engineers will work on developing a new spacesuit to survive outer space conditions.
Managing Director of the Prada Group, Lorenzo Bertelli, said: “Our decades of experimentation, cutting-edge technology and design know-how – which started back in the ‘90s with Luna Rossa challenging for the America’s cup – will now be applied to the design of a spacesuit for the Artemis era.
“It is a true celebration of the power of human creativity and innovation to advance civilisation.”
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The Daily Aus acknowledges the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.