Australian news and politics live: Albanese says anti-immigration protests gave ‘neo-nazis a platform’

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We will be back tomorrow with live coverage of Australian news and politics.

You can read tonight’s edition of The Nightly below:

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia needs to be “vigilant” to extreme cohort sowing divisions in Australia.

Speaking on ABC Afternoon Briefing on Monday, the PM said why there has always been resentment towards migration in Australia but that the anti-immigration rallies on Sunday proved it was rearing its head again.

“There has always been elements. What we need to do is to be vigilant about it,” he said.

“It’s much easier to organise through social media, through platforms, and easier as well for people who have their views reinforced.”

When the PM was asked if he thought “economic grievance” was a key driver of crowds turning out to the rallies, he didn’t directly answer but rather pointed out that it was only a small portion of Australians who attended.

“They weren’t big numbers in the scheme of things, in a nation of almost 27 million people, let’s be clear here,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the anti-immigration protests across Australia on Sunday gave “neo-nazis a platform”.

Speaking on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing on Monday, the PM expressed his disappointment after the mass gathering, which included a crowd of more than 15,000 in Sydney.

He said while some people might have had good intent, the event was hijacked by people with extremist views.

“There’s always good people who will turn up. What we have here is Neo-Nazis being given a platform. The tone of course of much of the rallies was unfortunate.”

“And the idea that an open neo-nazi was able to give a speech from the steps of the Victorian Parliament is something that isn’t the Australian way.”

A plan to expand the Gold Coast light rail has been abandoned by Queensland’s government.

It would have provided a new 13km direct line from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta, with a stop at the Gold Coast Airport.

Dorina Pojani, an Associate Professor of Urban Planning has condemned the decision.

“Not having light rail is absolutely the wrong decision,” University of Queensland’s Dr Pojani told AAP.

“If we’re ever going to shift people from cars to public transport, which we urgently need to do, we need to provide the sort of transport that is very, very smooth and efficient.

“It will be a disaster because there are so many transfers involved.”

Read more.

Victoria Police have issued a new plea and warning in the search for Dezi Freeman, now working to pressure people they say know where the accused cop killer is.

Superintendent Brett Kahan said on Monday he was “going to change tack” after pleading with Mr Freeman to surrender, working off new information.

“Last time I spoke in front of you, I appealed directly to Dezi Freeman to ring triple-0,” Supt Kahan said from Benalla Police Station.

“I’m going to change tack a little bit. Read into that what you will...

“I extend that to anyone who is harbouring Dezi Freeman, anyone who is considering harbouring Dezi Freeman, or knows something about the people who are harbouring Dezi Freeman.

“You are committing an extremely serious crime by harbouring or assisting in the escape of Dezi Freeman.”

​Read more.​

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has issued a warning ahead of the national account for the June quarter being released on Wednesday.

“We already know since this Government came to office, we got inflation down, the debt down, real wages are growing, unemployment is low, and interest rates are falling,” Dr Chalmers boasted.

“There is no shortage of challenges in our economy and we expect to see some of that in the June national accounts, which reflect a period of extreme volatility and uncertainty following the announcement of the tariffs in the United States.”

Dr Chalmers said the Government would like to see growth to be “stronger”, saying the solution for growth comes through a solution for productivity.

“We’ve got a big productivity agenda focused on skills and technology and energy and competition policy, and we have added to it since the reform round table as well.”

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly has labelled anti-immigration protests ‘racism’.

“I want to be clear and unequivocal. Targeting specific ethnic groups, like the wave of anti-Indian sentiment that we saw over the weekend, that is racism. Full stop,” Dr Aly said during Question Time.

“No excuses, no nuance, no justification. No one in Australia should have to justify their belonging in this country.

“This Albanese Labor Government believe that every Australian, whatever their race or religion, wherever they or their parents were born, should be able to feel safe and at home in any community, without prejudice and without discrimination.

“Multiculturalism isn’t just about a celebration of festivals and food. It is about ensuring everyone is empowered to participate in this democracy.”

Embattled Qantas Group will add to its string of big penalties after budget carrier Jetstar was hit with a multimillion-dollar fine for misleading New Zealand passengers about their rights following flight cancellations or delays.

The $NZ2.25 million ($2.03m) fine — one of the biggest in the country’s consumer law history — was imposed by the Auckland District Court on Monday just days after Qantas boss Vanessa Hudson conceded the airline’s battered reputation was a long way from being fixed while delivering a near-record annual profit.

The New Zealand Commerce Commission last September found Jetstar’s communications likely discouraged consumers from seeking compensation they were entitled to and that the Qantas-owned airline likely denied legitimate claims between January 2022 and March 2024.

Read the full story here.

The Senate has launched into a half-hour debate on matters of social cohesion, with competing motions put up by the Greens, the Coalition and the Government condemning racism and extremism.

Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi kicked things off, telling the Senate that marches like those over the weekend cause real-world harm.

She has read abusive messages she received this morning telling her to go back to Pakistan, and labels One Nation “the merchants of hate right here in this chamber” – a comment that Pauline Hanson takes offence to and asks to be withdrawn.

“These anti-immigrant marches do not happen in a vacuum,” Senator Faruqi says.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has called on Anthony Albanese to show leadership to repair Australia’s social cohesion after the anti-immigration rallies over the weekend.

Ms Ley said the marches on Sunday were attended by people of goodwill but “hijacked by neo-Nazis spouting hate, racism and resorting to politically motivated violence”, just as earlier pro-Palestinian rallies had been “hijacked by those seeking to glorify terrorism”.

“Extremism has no place in Australia. We must never import the bitterness of overseas conflicts into our communities,” she said in a statement.

“What unites us as Australians will always be stronger than those who seek to divide us. But we cannot take that unity for granted.

“This is a moment that demands leadership. Our society is resilient, but its fabric is being steadily eroded by extremism.

“Australians expect their leaders to rise to the challenge, to call out hate in all its forms, and to bring the country together.”

The Prime Minister is expected to address the issue during question time later today.