Why on Sky News.
Bits Sharry, Thanks Andrew good evening, Welcome to the show Tonight, the Prime Minister under fire from his own MPs over his decision to buy a multimillion dollar waterfront home. This as his own attacks on Malcolm Turnbule's wealth come back to bite him.
Those exclusive details in a moment.
Also tonight, is rady Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells the UN to get out of the way as he targets Hesbela terrorists high profile is Raeti figures. Elon Levy and Peter Lerner will both join me for full coverage throughout the show.
Plus, China has.
Deployed one hundred and twenty five military aircraft and navy vessels around Taiwan in an attempt to intimidate the sovereign nation. I'll speak about this shocking active aggression with Ronwan Bishop and Kleber Bond shortly.
Plus all the.
Media news from Kamandala Harris's upcoming Fox News interview to Channel nine sacking their spin.
Doctor with Sophie Ellsworth.
But first tonight, Labor and PS have hit out at their Prime minister for poor judgment in buying a waterfront mansion. During the cost of living crisis, and Anthony Albanese's own words attacking Malcolm Turbule's wealth came back to bite him today, showing the extent of his hypocrisy. Well, I can tell you that Labor and PS are shocked and incredulous at Albanese's decision to buy a four point three million dollar
cliff top holiday home during this economic crisis. One Labor and P told me today, this one will cut through. Do people think he gets the cost of living crisis when he's buying a holiday house like this? And A Labor insiders said to me, Labor members must be wondering if their captain has his head in the game and his eye on the ball. Former Labor State Secretary Cameron Milner said this is either total incompetence or sublime arrogance when it comes to Albo's political touch.
The danger for Labor is this.
Retirement home might be the perfect combination of both and a labor and He also told the City Morning Herald, I can't think of a greater act of self sabotage in my life.
I am gobsmacked.
And there's widespread concern inside Labor about the MPs who are up against the Greens in marginal seats where housing affordability is the single biggest.
Issue, and this is a gift to the Greens.
It's spectacularly poor political judgment from Albin Easy. Now Here was Albin Easy back in two thousand and eight saying that Turnbull, who was then just newly installed as the Liberal leader, was out of touch because of his wealth.
Born friend of the battler over here, the leader of the orphisician from Struggle Street in Point Piper.
Struggle Street in Point Piper, Well, what does Albo have to say now about Struggle Street on a waterfront mansion. Then a decade later, in twenty eighteen, the class war obsessed labor MP was still going for the jugular based on where Turnbull lived.
Malcolm Turnbull might be okay looking after the people of Point Piper, He's not good looking after the people of Nurangbar and the people of Kabulcha and the people of more Field and the purple of this community.
That is what you call hipocrisy.
And now, in the middle of a financial crisis, most Australians wouldn't be able to afford a four million dollar house at all, let alone a sport a spare four point three million dollars to splash on a holiday home. The Prime Minister is meant to lead the country during an economic crisis, but his lost touch with what Australians are actually going through. In fact, he's rubbing the cost of living.
Crisis in their face. Now here are the facts.
The proportion of homeowners falling behind on their mortgage repayments hit an eight year high in June. The RBA says families missing mortgage repayments has nearly doubled in some hard hit suburbs in Sydney. The number of people sleeping on the streets has almost doubled since twenty twenty one during this cost of living crisis, and food bag data out today reveals that more than half of households affected by food and security are skipping meals or even going an entire day without food.
So at the same.
Time that families are skipping meals and children are going going to school hungry, Albo from the block is buying a waterfront mansion. He is insensitively showing off just how well he's doing all from taxpayer money while the country suffers.
I mean, it.
Reminds me of Marie Antoinette's infamous saying let them eat cake. And it makes me wonder whether Albanesi actually cares that much about being elected Prime Minister again, whether he truly is desperate to win the election, because I genuinely don't understand how a politician who wants to win again can buy a multimillion dollar home when cost of living and
housing affordability are the two biggest issues facing Australians. And so astonishing is it that Liberal figure Michael Kroger today said it did look like Albanzi might be ready to retire.
It almost looks like a retirement house. It's sort of gives the part from the cost of living, CHRISTI is the housing crisis, etc. It always gives people the impression that he's setting himself up for retirement, that he's sort of on the way out, that if he loses the election, well he's got somewhere to go. I think that's a subliminal message that comes out of something like this, which is he's buying a property near the beach. It just gives the impression that he's headed for the door.
And this doesn't just cement the perception that alban Easy is out of touch. It shows that he truly is because unlike most Australians who are paying more tax than ever thanks to bracket creep, and we know that Australians already have among the highest personal income tax rates in the world.
Well, unlike most.
Australians, alban Easy had a pay rise this year. He now earns six hundred thousand dollars. All of his flights are paid for, all of his accommodation covered, and on top of this has been receiving rental income.
Every expense of his is taken care of.
He clearly has an entitlement mentality because Albanze's entire life has been spent working for politics or the Labor Party. According to his own official bio, he's only had a job outside of politics for one year. He was a bank officer from ninety eighty to nineteen eighty one. Now, voters don't hold wealth against politicians when they know that they've worked hard for it. Our country is built on aspiration, and rightly so. But Albanese's personal philosophy has been defined
by the class warfare and the politics of envy. That's the genesis of his changes to Stage three tax cuts and it's behind his hatred of negative gearing, and voters will hold this house purchase against Albanizi because he's been on.
The public purse his entire life.
He loves jet setting around the globe in Toto one and now without any expenses to worry about, he's been able to buy a waterfront holiday house. Now. The Prime Minister defended his purchase today by once again speaking about his childhood in Housing Commission.
Of course, I am much better off as a Prime Minister. I earn a good income. I understand now. I understand now I've been fortunate, but I also know what it's.
Like to struggle.
My mum lived in the one public housing that she was born in for all of her sixty five years, and I know what it's like, which is why I want to help all Australians into a home.
Mate, I think you're going to have to give the Housing Commission story a rest now that you're a property mogul. Well Peter Dighton today was asked about this, and he said that many Australians couldn't afford to pay their mortgages because of the government's economic management.
Prime Minister can answer questions in relation to it otherwise, but the homeowners at Australia that I'm worried about it at the moment of people who can't afford their mortgages. People have had twelve interest rate increases under this government, and interest rates should come back as they're doing in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand.
But because of mister Albanesi's bad economic management, we're seeing inflation remain higher here and therefore the interest rates remain higher as well.
The Herald Sun political columnist James Campbell said that this was Albanese's Hawaii moment, and like me, Campbell also wondered whether Albanzi had given up, and he pointed out that Australians have suffered the biggest fall in their standard of living out of any country in the OECD, he said, but is splashing out millions on a bolt hole in a region of Australia where people are living in caravan parks because there's nowhere to rent, short of using taxpayer
money to fly around the country to attend free Taylor Swift and Katie Perry gigs. It's hard to think of a more obvious way of showing he's out of touch with the experiences of ordinary people. And it's true Albanezi has lost touch with the reality of how Australians are struggling. He's now used to having his bum in the butter. He's living a grand old life while making decisions that
only prolong inflation and worsen the cost of living crisis. Now, I'm going to come back to that topic in a moment with Kayleb Bond and Bronwyn Bishop, but first let's turn to Israel. Now, the United Nations have had a responsibility and an obligation to enforce their own Security Council Resolution seventeen oh one since the end of the Second
Lebanon War in two thousand and six. That UN resolution decreed that Hesbela needed to stay north of the Latani River and not militarize southern Lebanon near the border with Israel. For the past eighteen years, the United Nations has comprehensively.
Failed to keep the peace.
Instead, literally right under their watch, Hesbela amassed stockpiles of weapons and built tunnels. With UNIFOR officials not far away. Hesbla used this area as a base to relentlessly attack Israel. Since October the eighth striking while the nation was at its most vulnerable. In the wake of the October seven massacre, more than eight thousand rockets have been fired, twelve children playing soccer murdered, and eighty thousand Israelis have been forced
to flee their homes. During all this time, Western leaders were silent.
There were no demands of Hesbalah.
For a ceasefire or to stop their attacks on Israel. With international Deploymacy a dead duck, Israel had no choice but to step in, fight the terrorists and defend their own citizens. Western leaders became deeply upset that Israel would dare defend itself and almost immediately demanded a ceasefire. Well now overnight Britain, Italy, France and Germany released the joint statement wrongly accusing Israel of deliberately attacking uniform sites after
eight employees were injured. In their statement, they said, we call on Israel and on all parties to uphold their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel at all times and to allow UNIFIL to continue carrying out its mandate. We reaffer the essential stabilizing role played by UNIFIL in southern Lebanon. They said, we underscore the importance of the United Nations in resolving armed conflict and mitigating the humanitarian impact, and so on.
What a joke, What a laugh.
UNIFIL has done less than nothing to stop the build up of terror on the border of Israel. UNIPHIL has done nothing to stop the terror attacks on Israelis, including little children, one devastated.
Mother who I had on this program.
What an absurd statement, A stabilizing role, what rubbish. The Israeli Prime Minister pushed back today, telling un workers to get out of the way.
The charge that Israel deliberately attacked UNIFIL personnel is completely false.
It's exactly the opposite.
Israel repeatedly as UNIFIL to get out of harmswell, it repeatedly asked them to temporarily leave the combat zone, which is right next to Israel's border with Lebanon. In fact, on the day that Israel began its ground operation next to our border with Lebanon, we ask them specifically, please leave this area so you're not harmed.
The evidence we've seen this week of Hesbela operating within a whisker's breath of UNIFIL is a wake up call.
It's further evidence that the.
United Nations simply enables terrorism instead of protecting nations against its barbarism. The reality is the ineffective UNIFIL has basically become human shields for Hesbelah.
This is truly a new low for.
The United Nations, watching the buildup of terrorism in breach of their own Security Council resolution and saying nothing, just allowing Israelis.
To be killed, or to discuss this further.
I'm joined now by head of the is Raeti Citizens spokes Person's Office, Elon Levy. Elon, welcome to the show now. As I said, we've just seen evidence this week that uniform posts were nearby Hesbela weapons and tunnels. What's your comment on how ineffective the UN Security Council has been in stopping the build up of terror in southern Lebanon.
It's extremely frustrating that Israel is now having to pick up the pieces of the international community's failure. UNIFIL had one job that was to help the Lebanese army disarm Hezbolla and put it away from the.
Israeli border, and it failed. It failed miserably.
Has Bolla built its military positions right next to unifilled soldiers. At some point those peacekeepers had to be sitting at their posts watching Hespolla digging tunnels right outside their posts. We had a mass casualty incident just the other night, four soldiers killed from a drone fired from inside an area that UNIFIL was meant to have disarmed. Israel spent eighteen years telling UNIFIL please enforce your and push Hesbola away from the border.
It spent a year.
Warning Hezbola back off or we will have to push you away. But after relentless rocket attacks, Israel is now having to step in to defend its people where the UN has clearly failed.
Elon, what's your view on that statement that I just mentioned from the UK, France, Italy and Germany overnight where they accused Israel of targeting UNIFIL officials.
I think those countries need to take responsibility for the failure of the international security architecture that was meant to keep us safe. UNIFIL is there because after the two thousand and six war with Hezbola, we agreed on a diplomatic resolution.
Instead of Israel.
Acting against Hesbola, the international community would help Lebanon to disarm Hesbola, and they didn't. Israelis are now dead because of the failure members of the UN Security Council to make sure that UNIPHIL enforced its mandate.
So I think that.
International diplomats criticizing Israel for its actions in Lebanon should show a little bit of humility and understand that Israel is now having to act and send its own soldiers.
In because they fail to do their job.
Obviously, Israel isn't targeting UNIFIL forces. Israel is coordinating with UNIFIL forces, but UNIFIL is right next to Hezbola positions.
Hesbola built its positions.
Deliberately next to UNIFIL posts, and so Israel now finds itself telling UNIFIL peacekeepers please move.
Out of the way. We don't want you to be heard. But it's not our.
Fault that has Bola built its military positions under your noses.
It's your fault. Need to fess up and take responsibility.
Yeah, Ellen, I think, and I was just in Israel last week. I think people around the world don't quite realize how Israelis are under attack every single day from rocket fire, which could be coming from seven directions. Can you tell me a bit about what's the reality of life in Israel with sirens constantly going off.
Since the October seventh massacre, we've been under attack on seven fronts. Gaza Hezbolla joined in the next day, the Houthi pirates in Yemen, Iranian militias in Syria, Iranian militias in Iraq, Alastinian terrorists in the West Bank, and Iran itself. When we have a rocket siren we had one in Tel Aviv just yesterday, we don't know what direction it's coming from. It could be coming from the south, to
the north, the east, or the west. Iran has deliberately surrounded Israel with a ring of fire of proxy armies, and their goal is to destroy Israel, and they are waging a war of attrition against us, to make life in this country impossible. Because every once in a while, there's a rocket siren and you don't know what direction it is coming from. And that's why it's so important that our allies stand together with us and say a ceasefire is not enough.
The goal should be peace.
It's not enough that this war should end with Iran's terrorist armies on Israel's borders able to fire rockets whenever they want. This war has to end when Iran's proxy armies can.
No longer shoot rockets.
At Israel's people and we can move towards real peace with our neighbors in Lebanon instead of allowing the Iranian regime and its terrorist armies to ruin everything for everyone all the time.
Yeah, Elon, one thing that really struck me when I was in Israel was the unity among Israelis. I mean irrespective of political leanings, and everyone has an opinion on whether they support the government or they don't, but the majority of Israeli support the war on terror. And Elon you personally, you used to be a spokesperson for the government.
That didn't work out, but now you've launched a citizens Spokesperson's office where you speak on behalf of the citizens of Israel, and your message is very similar to the governments because Israel, like I said, is unified in wanting to defeat the terrorism. You know, can you talk about this because it is so unique when especially and you've just been to Australia as well.
In Australia, we're more divided than ever.
Israelis are divided on many issues, but were united in an understanding that this war is truly existential. We are surrounded by enemies with long range precision missiles that want to kill all of us and destroy our country, and that means everyone in Israel understands what is at stake
in this war. And when I finished my position as a government spokesman, I set up my own organization of ordinary citizens who can stand up and speak up for our country because we realize that only three things matter right now. Hammas must go down, the hostages must go home, and Hesbola and Iran's other proxy armies must go away. This war cannot end with the hamas Terra regime still
in power in Gaza plotting another October seventh. It cannot end with hostages still being starved and tortured and raped and executed in Gaza. And it cannot end with Hezbola sitting right on Israel's northern border, or we can't get tens of thousands of people back to their homes.
I think there's a perception.
Around the world that this is a war that Israel somehow wants or is dragging out.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We don't want this war.
We're paying a terrible price for this war, but we understand why we need to win this war that was declared against us, because we want to live within safe.
And secure borders where our people can go.
To sleep safely without fear of a drone coming from two thousand miles away and murdering them.
In their sleep.
Yeah, well, said Elin Leavy.
Really appreciate your time right now live from Israel, and late this hour I'm going to be joined by Peter Lerna that with the latest on Iran and when we can expect those strikes from Israel. But now let's bring in form a Speaker of the House, bron Win Bishop and Sky News host Caleb Bond. Welcome to you both.
Great to have you here. We're going to get to your view on Albanzi's waterfront match and purchase in just a moment, but I do want to start with what is actually very big news that China has surrounded Taiwan with one hundred and twenty five military aircraft and navy vessels. This is a clear show of intimidation. It's been condemned by the US, Europe and also Australia. Bronwin This is a worrying sign that China could be moving forward with its reunification or invasion designs on Taiwan.
Shari. Whenever there's a void of power internationally, something will fill it, and z is filling it right now. You're seeing that America is in the throes of its election with the sheer possibility of Kamala Harris being elected. Makes America so weak it doesn't matter. In the United Kingdom, you've got Stammer, who is such a weak character. I mean all the stories coming out about him, and bear in mind he too was a corbyn Man, and Corburn was anti Semitic and a Labor Party was full of it.
And then you look at Makran and then you look at Germany, which is also starting to see a change in the way people are voting. There's a weakness in the West and China its economy is not performing well. And whenever there's a downgrade and the people start to get a bit rest is then it's dictators always say we'll go in and we'll fight for something to unify the people behind them.
So it's a.
Very dangerous time indeed right now because of that vacuum of power being filled by Z. So we've just got a hope to goodness that Trump wins in America and starts to restore some strength because there is because of his unpredictability, Z will see that that is a threat to him.
Caleb, you know, we're seeing still the Russia Ukraine War, We're seeing the Middle East on fire, and now China is exercising it's this intimidation. I mean, one hundred and twenty five aircraft circling Taiwan. That is massive, and I think it's been utterly underplayed in the Australian media well.
And that is correct because it's not just a warning to Taiwan that they actually do want to finish the reunification that they've always talked about. It's a warning to the West. I mean, what they're saying is if and when we decide to go into Taiwan, don't you dare come anywhere near the place, otherwise we will reach hell
upon you. And it's a warning to the US and Australia, which of course has to deal with the fact that China is expanding within the Pacific and they are going around giving lots of money to little Pacific islands and nations that we simply can't keep up with through their debt diplomacy, and it's the same thing they're saying. Look, if you want to try and fight us, you have no hope in hell. That is the scariest part of all of this. They showing the mc that they have.
And look, you can talk about how bad a country China is as a dictatorship, and that is correct, but of course under dictatorship you can have as many soldiers as you want, and that is the one thing that China has in its favor and it will use them.
Yeah, there's different arguments from different people and just how strong they're military is, but look, I don't want to find out, that's for sure. Now let's return to Albanese's four point three million dollar purchase of a waterfront home in the new Southel Central coast ron when this is a bad look in the cost of living crisis.
Well it's not only a bad look, but personally, I think Albanizi has mentally left the job. I think he is under attacked from two or under fear from two areas. He's got three people in his own party who are starting to count numbers against him to topple him, and you've got the pole starting to slip away. Having boasted he's never lost a news poll. Having done now he's saying, well, look from a boy from my house and commission home, I'll end up in a four point three million dollar house.
I've done pretty well, so I think I'm mentally leaving this job. And there's no leadership in any of the areas where we need it, none, absolutely none. So we hear this trotted out story about I grew up in the Housing Commission house again today because that is somehow identifies him as a person who's risen. But quite frankly, he rose above his station. I've told you before I sat in that chamber with him for more than twenty years, and nobody ever said he was leadership material.
He probably didn't even think it himself.
He was, like I said last night, he was surprised when he went shot and lost the prime ministership. He was probably happy to be an infrastructure minister.
A consequential infrastructure minister. He was a nobody minister. Nobody wanted to attack him with question time or showing that because he didn't matter.
There are some politicians who are desperate for the top job. And you do wonder with this house purchase, Caleb, whether albanize is thinking, well, I've been PM, now I can go and enjoy my retirement.
He's sixty one at this time.
Well, it would certainly seem to indicate that he's already thinking about what he's going to do after the prime ministership. And one would think that whether he loses the Prime ministership at an election in the form of he loses government, or he gets rolled after an election because he delivers a slim minority government, whatever it might be, I think he's going to be out of there like a shot.
After that.
There'll be a by election in Graindler and he'll bugger off to the Central Coast, and good luck to him. The thing that has troubled me a little bit about the commentary around this today, though, is that it does smack of the politics of envy and the class warfare that is so common in this country. Do I wish that Anthony Albanizi had risen to a place where he could afford a four point three million dollar home on the central Coast? Probably not, But am I jealous of him for having done so?
No, think there's jealousy.
I think people, like I said at the start of the show, we are a country of aspiration and people respect those who are self made, who work hard, who make their way there. But Bronwin Albanezy has been on the public person his whole life.
Correct, But what his colleagues will be thinking is what a selfish man to put our marginal seats at risk by doing this purchase. At this point in time, nobody's saying he can't buy and sell properties. He wishes you can, But it's a sheer disregard for colleagues who are in marginal seats, particularly Robertson's a marginal seat where he's buying because that satisfies his own ego. I seriously mean what I say. He feels he's made it, and he did
by getting to the Prime Minister. He had no idea what he was going to do once he got there, which was quite apparent when he said the voice is going to be the way.
It's still got no idea and that's part of the problem. He never prepared for the job.
Correct.
And you know, I think it's amusing that people are saying the premiers won't turn up to see the Prince to see the King and Queen. Well, quite frankly, the invitation comes from the Prime Minister. So there he's a poisonous so I don't want to be accept his invitation.
We'll see all right from and Bishop Calebon and Caleb will see you tonight at ten o'clock.
Now after the break.
A legend of journalism, George Nigas passes away at eighty two. We look back on his career, plus why Kamala Harris has agreed to an interview on Fox News, Sophie Ellsworth would join me next, and Peter Lerner still coming.
Up on the show. Sus stay tuned, Welcome back, well.
Eminent Australian journalist George Nigas has passed away at the age of eighty two. He was the face of many hard hitting news programs. The founding host of sixty Minutes, presented the first episode of Foreign Correspondent. Have a look at this memorable moment from an interview with Bob Hawk.
I describe you as an ex boozer and womanizer X.
The X is definitely correct for both. I heard your question and that's your answer. You take a lot of convincing Danta.
I don't know if we'd get away with a question like that to a politician these days. All right, Media writer for The Australian, Sophie Elsworth joins me. Now, Sophie, what were some of the highlights of George's career?
Well, Sherry, the eighty two year old has a career that spanned many decades. He started as a high school teacher and he worked across many commercial TV outlets in Australia. Obviously he was also ABC Foreign correspondent sixty minutes. I mean, George Nigas's career is so extensive. He's one of the most prominent journalists in this country and today there was certainly an outpouring of grief when they learned of his passing.
As we know, Sharry, he was batting battling Alzheimer's diseases disease in recent years.
But he had some of those great moments.
That clipped there with Bob Hawk, an interview with Margaret Thatcher that went viral. He was a very hard hitting journalist and the Australian public very much warm to him, and this is a great loss for the media industry.
Indeed, all right, Sophie, let's have a look at us politics now because in a surprise move, Kamala Harris has agreed to an interview with Fox News with Bret Bayer. This is the first time since Hillary Clinton in twenty sixteen that a presidential candidate from the Democrat Party will appear on Fox ahead of election day.
Now, Donald Trump has slammed Fox over it.
He's saying that the network's totally lost its way and has grown weak and soft on Democrats in this before the interview has even aired. But Sophie given Kamala Harris has struggled to perform in friendly interviews over the past week, this is going to be an unpredictable performance.
Absolutely, it will be Sharry and I think it is a good thing that she's fronting up to Fox News.
She is not the best media.
Performer by any stretch, and Fox News has an enormous reach three times that of CNN and MSNBCS.
So there'll be a lot of.
People tuning into this interview because she's opted for those more friendly interviews. She was recently on the left wing program The View, So I think there will be a lot of people tuning in, And obviously she's going on Fox to try and win over some of those voters that she thinks she can change their minds from a voting Republican to Democrat, and also for the undecided voters who are not sure which way they will go on polling day.
Yeah, and Brett Bay is a good journalist. There's no indication he'll do anything other than a tough interview. I don't know why Donald Trump wouldn't be welcoming this because we have, as you say, seen Kamala Harris struggle when she doesn't have a teleprompter.
Now I want to return.
You know, I spoke about this last night and the show to the ongoing woes at nine Entertainment. The news yesterday that it's long term spin doctor Victoria Buckan has been made redundant, in other words, sacked. Sophie, we've both been following this story. Nine employees have welcomed this move. They say it's the start of the network restoring trust. Is that the reaction you've also been getting? And what can we expect from the upcoming cultural Review?
Well, the timing of Victoria Bucan's redundancy is just a few weeks before this Cultural Review is to be handed down, Shari, So the timing is interesting However, I have been told her to Hartscher has nothing to do with the findings in the Cultural Review. But Channel nine are no doubt in damage control. They've now seen the exit of Mike Sneeze, Me, the CEO chair, Peter Costello, Victoria Bucken and.
The news boss Darren Wick.
It's been a revolving door of people leaving the company.
The share prices in free fall.
The company's in a mess and they need a total overhaul because there's a lot of people very nervous, Sharry, as you would know about the findings of this cultural review that are due to be handed down by the Company Intersection by the end of this month.
And the staff are going to be expecting this report to be made public and for there to be real change. All right, Sophie Elsware, thank you so much for your time and insights, always excellent. Now still to come. Bill Clinton's gaff puts Kamala Harris in a world of pain. Let's have a look at what he said next. Plus when will Is Rail retaliate against Iran. Peter Lerner will be on the show. That's all coming up. Welcome Back with Peter Lerner is still coming up on the show
when can we expect Israel to retaliate against Iran. But now let's bring in senior fellow at the Menzies Research Center Nick Cata and former Liberal minister Gary Hargrave. Welcome to you both, Hi, Sarry. Let's start with this promise to crack down on credit card or debit card rather
search arges. So under this plan announced by Labor from twenty twenty six, we'd no longer have to pay a fee when paying with our own money on debit cards, although credit card fees would still apply, Nick Cata, given cash is on the way out, it is really absurd that we still have these fees for using cards.
Yeah, yeah, First, Showy, just let me be just me congratulate you on the work you did last week. It was very important. It's what we pay the ABC to do. Unfortunately we had to get it from you. Great reporting. Look, you're right, I mean what makes me particularly frustrated about this is that you know so many places will not
allow you to take to to give cash anymore. I mean, I would much prefer to give cash most of the time, and usually try, but you run out, you run out of patience with some of the places that refuse to take it and insist on taking your credit card or your debit card if you're more careful with your money.
And I do think that the I agree with the Peter Dutton that this is just a plan for a plan right now, but I think it's something both parties should look at because it seems to be only fair that you're simply withdrawing money out of your own account in the case for debit card, and it seems completely wrong that you should be charged a surcharge for that.
Yeah, I mean the plan for a plan.
So the obn easy government is committing two point one million dollars to the a Triple ce to investigate this further.
I mean, Gary, why not just scrap the fees?
Now? What do you need to investigate?
Yeah?
Look, I understand the argument, but I've got to tell you Sharry, and I echo Nick's congratulations on terific work last week. Isn't it great to see an Australian bringing that perspective? But can I just say the thing about the fee, If it's disclosed, at least you know you're paying it and your cash might be on the way out. But there are those who aren't happy about that. And it's still ultimately legal tender and for places to refuse
cash seems counterintuitive to me. So if you get rid of the fee, and the fee is just buried into the cost, it's going to be the small business that's going to have to jack up the prices.
So we're going to pay.
It no matter what.
So I actually think it's not unreasonable to have a line item on your bill that says and transaction fee. I get the anger. I paid one today. It's what a bit over a percent for some places. Some places it's even more. But I think that this is a disclosure that is once taken away, is going to be convenient to the banks and the credit card machine people, the tyros and people like that, and it's going to disadvantage small businesses because people are just going to get angry.
The prices are going to go up without explanation. So I think there's a little honesty in knowing that there is a search arge.
Well, they'd have to scrap the fee, just a thought.
They'd have to scrap the fee for the small businesses as well, you'd think, but I want to move on to look at once they'd have to they'd have to let's have a look at the Kammanda Harris campaign wheeled out former President Bill Clinton today. This was to help garner support of voters, but then there was a bit of a blunder. It was an event in Georgia, and he suggested that Georgia nursing student Lake and Riley's death might not have happened if the illegal immigrant had been
properly vetted. So this was seeming to blame the Biden administration.
Have a quick look.
You had a case in Georgia not very long ago.
Din they made an ad about it, but it what the young woman who'd been killed by an emigrant.
Yeah, well if they then properly vetted, that probably wouldn't have happened.
But if they are properly vetted and.
That doesn't happen, I mean, Nick Kta, this has got her bit. Clinton has to know what he's doing. Is a very smart guy. Was this an attack on Kamala Harris's record?
Well, I look, it shows two things. First up, one is that the Democrats know that they are being hit very badly by this issue. That American people are really very very annoyed about these borders being open, and it's a very dangerous situation. The second thing I think it shows is just how shame faced and unembarrassed Democrats can be, you know, now, trying to set themselves up apparently, and Kamala's being the same as the Party of the Tough Borders.
I mean it's rather like Genghis Khan setting himself up as a man of peace, isn't it. I mean it's just nuts, but they'll try it. They'll try it because they really really know this is.
Hurting No indeed, Gary Hargrover, I actually want to ask you about Victorian Liberal leader John Persuito because he survived a party room meeting without a leadership challenge. Here he was afterwards trying to put it all behind him.
Are you happy that there was no film?
Well?
I don't know what all that was about, to be honest, but everybody's focused on the job ahead.
Did you raise your defamation trying I won't.
Go into the detail, but I had a recap of the last month and I think it went very well.
Gary.
There's been so much backgrounding about a potential spill and a better leader. I mean, surely Victorians need a stronger leader in the Liberal opposition.
Yeah, And they've been sweating on one for a long time. A lot of normal Liberal voters in Victoria, that rare breed are sweating on somebody of some substance being the leader. And that month long trial would have gone for about four days if Persuito hadn't sort of extended the evidence into great narratives about his own self importance from what I could see of it. But anyway, it was a soap opera that's been going on for ages. Look, I
think the guy's got to go. He's got to fall on his sword, and hasn't going to be a very long sword. Only a short one will get rid of him. But he's got to go. And the Liberals have got to refurbish themselves. Victoria needs desperately a change the government, but they're not going to vote for something if they're not certain about what they're going to get. And I mean Queensland has got a similar problem where there's a bit of a Victorian Liberals feel about the Liberal National
Party in a lot of minds as well. So this is not a good time, not a good time at all.
Yeah, all right, Nick Kata, Gary Hargrave, thank you both very much for your time. Now still to come the US to send an anti missile system and troops to Israel. I'll speak with Peter Lerner from the IDF about this and the threat of Around's nuclear program. That's after this quick break, welcome back.
Well.
American media has reported that he's Raeli Prime Minister Netanya who was only going to hit military targets rather than oil or nuclear sites when he retaliates against Iran for those two hundred ballistic missiles nearly two weeks ago. But then a statement from Netanya Who's office today said we listen to the opinions of the United States, but we will make our final decisions based on our national interests.
And I've got to tell you that's the strength I saw when I met with Netanyahu last week, that he's not going to succumb to pressure from the international community if it's not in the best interests of Israel's survival. Well, let's cross live now to Israel, where IDF International spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner joins me. Peter, thank you for your time. Does this mean that strikes on Iran's nuclear sites are still a live option on the table?
Charry?
The idea has put on the table for the government a vast spectrum of different options that the IDEAF can employ and deploy to and I think that this is not necessarily something we need to talk about openly, but of course there is many different options. The contrary to non state actors like Hesbalah or Hamas Iran, the Islamic Republic is a nation state and they have assets and interests that can all be hurt.
Look if the nuclear sites aren't targeted now by Israel. There has been speculation about whether the US would support this when it's in the middle of an election campaign.
Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Though at some point they do need to be dismantled before nuclear weapons are developed, because that would pose a threat to the entire world, I mean including US here in Australia.
Absolutely. Iran is the disruptor and destabilizer of the region and well beyond the region, and I think it is in everybody's interest they do not have a nuclear capability, and that is why, of course there is a huge concern, and I think we've seen several governments over the last few weeks institute new sanctions on Islamic Republic leadership of
their military apparatus and beyond. And I think that this is a huge concern for the world and what we've seen on our borders and when you saw and you got up close, the reality here is one where Iran and their backed proxies have been empowered with strategic weapons on our border and none of this would be able to take place if it were not for the Islamic
Republic of Iran. So I think there is a huge concern is they are the destabilizer and they are the disruptor, and they have to be held accountable for the actions of launching one hundred and eighty one ballistic missiles on Israel. You know, one is unacceptable, one hundred and eighty one is despicable.
No, indeed, And so we've heard that Joe Biden has now said he's going to help defend Israel by sending an advanced air defense system known as FAD or thhd ID to Israel to help prevent or intercept similar ballistic missiles from Iran. The Pentagon saying it's going to send one hundred troops on the ground to help operate this system. Is this, How will this system help Israel? It's already got the iron Dome, So can you explain how this is different.
Israel's aerial defenses are I would say, the best in the world, but every air defense system is not airtight. Our aerial defense like the Iron Dome, but also like David Sling and the arrow systems, they work on different levels of the atmosphere, above atmosphere and beneath the atmosphere and lower levels, and each component of this aerial defense
system has a role in defending our airspace. The THAD mechanism, which is a US based operations system, is something that throughout the course of many years, the IDEF and the US Armed Forces have exercised together precisely for a scenario that Iran could jeopardize Israel's sky. So I think, and I won't speak on behalf of the Americans, that I understand that there is a joint interest, like we spoke beforehand, and therefore they are definitely leaning into defenders well and
defenders ral sky. The defense mechanisms is just one component though, of course, of our system. There's the active defense systems like the Iron Dome, but it's also the individual responsibility that we put on each and every citizen. You heard the sirens when you're here. Each an individual needs to take responsibility, so there's passive defense systems also individual responsibility.
And then of course that complimented with the offensive activities, We're not going to take it anything sitting down or lying down from our military is responsible for engaging, for dealing a strong deterring, deterring but also decisive to those
that seek us out. And I would definitely suggest to the Islamic Republic of Iran to look at very closely how we have destroyed and dismantled Hamas, it's leadership, it's capability to carry out in October seventh attack ever again, and what we've done to Hasbullah its most formidable proxy on our border in the north. Hasbulla who have been decapitated. We've taken out vast majority or a huge element of
their strategic capability. The levels of their operations are diminished, and the operational capability of actually conducting attacks against us is also extremely limited. It's not completely gone, but considering the fact that for twenty years they've been building this capability Iran on our border, that Bulla's been training and building their forces.
Apologies for interrupting, we've just got less than a minute, and I just want to get this final question in before we go. Can you tell me just how close Iran is to developing a functioning nuclear weapon.
I don't want to go into this type of discussion. It is a concern as well, has been concerned about it for many years. The world needs to rally around this idea that this destabilizer of the Middle East and beyond cannot hold. Imagine conducting a wall against the our enemies today if Iran was a nuclear power.
No, absolutely terrifying thought, Peter Lerner. I really appreciate your time. The insights have been invaluable. Thank you very much. Now that's it for me. I'll see you tomorrow night at eight o'clock. Another big show as always, but right now Paul Murray is back.