Protests on an outback road in the Northern Territory have refocused attention on Pine Gap, the secretive US satellite base near Alice Springs. The protesters have tried to block workers from accessing the facility, which they claim is aiding Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Nour Haydar speaks with seni…

Looking forward to hosting the 2025 Sydney Peace Prize Lecture next month. Jurist and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will be in Sydney to accept the award this year. 👇🏽

The ABC’s new “public comment guidelines” created in response to Lattouf’s legal case have been released: www.abc.net.au/about/plans-... Staff have also been sent an additional note which warns that “even disclosing a comment to one person may be sufficient to breach the standards”.

Very important and powerful interview by @nourhaydar.bsky.social today on Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Khaled Sabsabi reinstated as Venice Biennale representative after independent review into dumping' by @nourhaydar.bsky.social and @burke-guardian.bsky.social for @theguardian.com.

THREAD 💭 Yesterday, after 24 hours of silence, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood in the Blue Room and publicly backed US President Donald Trump’s bombing of Iranian uranium enrichment facilities. He said Iran mustn’t be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and “we support action to prevent that”

Former minister now backbencher Ed Husic says the Albanese govt “can and should be doing more” on Gaza. Says: - Israeli ambassador should be called in & more aid demanded - financial aid should be ramped up - prepare targeted sanctions on Israeli leaders www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

It is frustrating to hear UN commissioner, Chris Sidoti, say it may take until the end of the year to release their determination of genocide in Gaza however I really appreciated this in depth conversation from @nourhaydar.bsky.social on today’s Full Story.

How will Gaza influence votes this election? | Fiona Katauskas

“Assuming home values from here climb in line with the Reserve Bank’s inflation rate target of 2.5%, and wages grow by 3.5% a year, it will take 70 years… to push the house price-to-income ratio back down to 6.5.” www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Put aside 30 mins today to listen to this. It’s my interview with British-Australian doctor Mohammed Mustafa who recently returned from Gaza where he had volunteered at Al Ahli hospital. You’ll want to listen to this one in quiet and private. open.spotify.com/episode/6hKH...

State department staff told to report colleagues for ‘anti-Christian bias’

A Department of Homeland Security media representative told the Guardian Australia that the department “cannot answer questions on something we cannot verify the veracity of”. “Just like I cannot confirm the existence of big foot.”

The climate has been conspicuously absent from the conversations dominating our politics. @nourhaydar.bsky.social , @adammorton.bsky.social , and @patrickkeneally.bsky.social jumped on the microphones this week and tried to change that:

Grassroots Labor members are ramping up internal pressure on the government over its positions on the Middle East and Aukus, urging Anthony Albanese to make two major foreign policy shifts if he wins a second term. @danjb.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

‘What was their crime?’ Families tell of shock over IDF killing of Gaza paramedics

Video Shows Aid Workers Killed in Gaza Under Gunfire Barrage, With Ambulance Lights On www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/w...

Such a heartbreaking interview this one... "We are storytellers..." (All Oz storytellers should weep at the course of events in the Sabsabi affair...and that it was simply allowed to stand...)

Palestinian paramedics shot by Israeli forces had hands tied, eyewitnesses say

“It’s actually dismantling my career, but also more broadly, anyone else’s career who may possibly engage with critically towards a political position or a political opinion.” Big respect to Khaled Sabsabi on the integrity and ethics of his work: www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Big respect to @nourhaydar.bsky.social on this important, sensitive, thorough interview. Be sure to listen to the recording to hear Khaled’s own voice on what it means to be an Australian artist in today’s Australia.

NEW: Artist Khaled Sabsabi has blamed Creative Australia for the “dismantling” of his career and said the board’s decision to revoke his appointment as Australia’s Venice Biennale representative has given the green light for others to smear his reputation. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

In his first interview since being dumped as Australia’s representative for the Venice Biennale, I sat down with artist Khaled Sabsabi to discuss the damage done by Creative Australia, and the furore over two historical works. Listen here 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/1L0w...

Labor capitulated to Coalition demands and agreed to mandatory minimum jail sentences in large part because of this “fake terrorism plot”. Now we have laws that Labor’s own national platform says won’t reduce crime, undermine the judiciary, and lead to discriminatory outcomes

Seized, settled, let: how Airbnb and Booking help Israelis make money from stolen Palestinian land www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

Two Palestinian flags on a tapestry on display at the National Gallery of Australia have been concealed with white fabric, in what the artists have described as an act of censorship they only agreed to reluctantly Via: @nourhaydar.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

EXCLUSIVE: Two Palestinian flags on a tapestry on display at the National Gallery of Australia have been concealed with white fabric, in what the artists have described as an act of censorship they only agreed to reluctantly.

Media release: Artistic and creative organisations across Australia must reaffirm their commitment to freedom of expression following a series of interventions over the past 12 months which have resulted in artists being silenced or sidelined. https://meaa.io/3CYDkg5

Arts Minister Tony Burke made some remarks earlier this week about Creative Australia’s decision to ditch Lebanese Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi as the pick for the 61st Venice Biennale. They didn’t get much coverage but I can’t get them out of my head. So here you go.

NEW: Members of an Independent panel involved in the selection of Khaled Sabsabi have broken their silence. They say they’re deeply concerned about the decision to rescind his appointment, and have called for transparency from Creative Australia’s Board. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Creative Australia has announced a review into the selection process that took place for the 2026 Venice Biennale. For clarity, this is not a review of what has transpired over the last week - but rather a review into how Khaled Sabsabi was selected.

“To be selected as the artist and curator team to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale is considered the ultimate exhibition for an artistic team. To have your selection rescinded… is without precedent.” theconversation.com/a-shameful-c...

Nour, @nourhaydar.bsky.social, has been leading the coverage today. Amazing work. Also listen to her podcast from last week when everything was hopeful www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Yesterday Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke publicly said he was “shocked” by some Khaled Sabsabi’s work. Hours later he was dumped. In a statement to Guardian Australia this evening Minister Burke said he “did not” direct the decision taken by Creative Australia.

This story is massive and atm there’s one piece out there that nails it. What’s happening today is going to have ramifications for Australian art and speech for a long time. Read @nourhaydar.bsky.social’s reporting on it. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

#BREAKING All five artistic teams shortlisted for the 61st Venice Biennale have released a joint statement in support of winning duo Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino who were dumped by Creative Australia following media and political pressure. The group calls for them to be reinstated.

Just a week after announcing award-winning Lebanese Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi as Australia’s pick for the 2026 Venice Biennale, Creative Australia has capitulated to media and political pressure and dumped him.

Labor MP Ed Husic has questioned why ABC lawyers raised (then withdrew) a legal argument requiring Antoinette Lattouf to prove the existence of the Lebanese/Arab/Middle Eastern race. “I think it's reasonable to expect better,” he says on ABC Afternoon Briefing. “Why raise it in the first place?”

Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose audibly laughs in federal court when asked if it was her practice to wish ABC employees would come down with respiratory illnesses. “That was just a face saving idea… it’s an easy way to save face” Buttrose says.

This exchange encapsulates so much of what is wrong with the media: Former ABC Chair Ita Buttrose describes Antoinette Lattouf as “an activist”. “What was the view that Ms Lattouf had Ms Buttrose?” Lattouf’s lawyer asks. “I think she was critical of Israel” Buttrose says.

Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino have been chosen as the artist team to represent Australia at the 61st Venice Biennale. Listen to our extended interview with Khaled Sabsabi on Full Story tomorrow 🎧

Khaled Sabsabi never imagined he would be selected to represent Australia at the world’s oldest and most prestigious contemporary art exhibition – let alone in the current political climate. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

NEW: ABC staff furious over broadcaster’s legal position on ‘race’ www.smh.com.au/business/com...

The ABC must commission an independent inquiry into the broadcaster’s independence from outside interference and apologise for allowing external pressure to influence the dismissal of Antoinette Lattouf and attempts to have other journalists sacked. https://buff.ly/4hCtsaM #MEAAmedia

Let me get this straight. The President of the US - Australia’s closest ally - has vowed to “take over” Gaza and is in effect backing the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, and Australia’s PM has offered no comment or condemnation other than this.

Being sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians, and sharing the injustices committed by Israel are not at odds with being a journalist or good journalism. Our industry often awards/elevates journalists who speak unashamedly on human rights & social justice issues