Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the United Nations assembly, marking their first joint meeting since Albanese’s comments about melons sparked controversy. Albanese has repeatedly dismissed claims that he made offensive remarks about a gift of two melons presented to him by Takaichi in a podcast called Bush Deep in early July.
The Japanese ambassador to Australia downplayed the possibility that any insult had been caused, stating that Tokyo had received assurances from the Australian government that Albanese’s words had been misunderstood. During his stay in New York, Albanese also met with British leader Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spain’s Pedro Sanchez, and US President Donald Trump.
On domestic political issues, Shadow Minister for Housing Andrew Bragg proposed a new solution that would allow people to use their superannuation as collateral to obtain a home loan. The policy was not adopted by the opposition, and opposition leader Angus Taylor stated that the proposal was not Coalition policy.
Parenthood advocate Georgie Dent, chief executive of the organisation Parenthood, said at the National Press Club that Australians should have 52 weeks of paid parental leave. Dent cited data from the Department of Finance showing that the birth of children reduces the earnings of Australian women by an average of 55 per cent during the first five years of parenthood. She called for the establishment of a government policy pathway to ensure 52 weeks of paid parental leave, compared to the current 26 weeks paid by taxpayers, and for meaningful parental leave for fathers and partners.
This week’s report on intergenerational solidarity showed that, for the first time in 40 years, more Australians will die than will be born. The host of today’s National Press Club stated that he would never ban journalists from doing their job.
Health Minister Mark Butler said he was frustrated that Queensland was the only state or territory that had not joined the government’s Thriving Kids program. The first phase of the program was due to begin a week after Butler’s comments. Butler told ABC Radio on Wednesday that all other states and territories, both Liberal and Labor, as well as the CLP government in the Northern Territory, had signed up. Butler said that Queensland Premier David Crisafulli was avoiding the responsibility he had previously promised to accept.
Police have offered a reward of $1 million for information about missing boy Gus Lamont.
