Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke has criticised the head of DP World's Australian business, saying Australians are sick to death of profitable companies complaining about paying the same wages as their competitors. On Thursday morning Mr Burke met with representatives from Australia's second largest port operator DP World and the Maritime Union of Australia. The meeting comes amid an ongoing dispute between the pair that is causing delays at Australia's ports. The union is asking for a 16 per cent pay rise for more than 1,500 workers over two years, which it says is still below the rate paid by bigger rival Patrick Terminals. Mr Burke also took aim at the tactics used by DP World's local chief executive Nicolaj Noes.

LNP MP Henry Pike has called out the Albanese government for “bending over backwards” for China when they don’t “want to be our friend or equal” – they want Australia to be “subject to their will”. China’s Ambassador to Australia yesterday blamed the Japanese for the sonar pulse that injured Australian navy divers last year. His comments contradict China’s state media, which, at the time, acknowledged it was the fault of the Chinese military. “I think it’s been an incredibly weak response, but it hasn’t just been an incredibly weak response this week - it’s been an incredibly weak response since the prime minister was elected,” Mr Pike told Sky News host Paul Murray. “He has bent over backwards to try to accommodate China, to try to thaw the relationship that had frosted over the last decade, and, unfortunately, he’s finding out the hard way that it’s not because of Australia’s behaviour that has created this frosty relationship, it’s because of China. “China doesn’t want to be our friend or equal; China wants us to be subject to their will.”

Spiked Online Editor Tom Slater says the Princess of Wales’ health matter sounds “quite serious” as she remains in hospital for another fortnight after an abdominal operation. “It’s one of those things where, on the one hand, they’re obviously trying to ensure that Kate enjoys a certain level of privacy,” Mr Slater told Sky News host Peta Credlin. “But at the same time, in the social media age and in the 24-hour news cycle, there’s going to be a lot of speculation. “What we’ve got does sound quite serious … going to be in hospital for a fortnight, out of royal duties until Easter. “It looks like whilst they made a point of saying it’s non-cancerous, something with that kind of recovery time and without any kind of extra detail about what it is that’s actually taking place is naturally going to create huge concern.”

Sky News host Paul Murray says while unemployment is steady, December in 2023 saw “65,000 people” who lost their job in the leadup to the New Year. “He’s not the first politician to do this but he promised not to be a politician who would do it like everyone else,” Mr Murray said. “If you are a real human being you don’t care about what the overall figure says. “You couldn’t care less about how the numbers are pushed this way or that way. “There was, once you put together the number of people who lose a full-time job or a part-time job, 65,000 people who lost their job in Australia, in December.”

Shadow Housing Minister Michael Sukkar says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being “tricky” when it comes to stage three tax cuts. Mr Albanese on Wednesday reaffirmed the government's commitment to allow the already legislated stage three tax cuts to proceed unchanged, despite calls to water down reforms. The already legislated changes are set to kick in on July 1, with 94 per cent of Australian taxpayers to face a maximum marginal tax rate of 30 per cent or less. Mr Sukkar claimed that the Prime Minster is “squirming his way through” answering questions on stage three tax cuts. “He’s been around the last week, and never has the prime minster fronted the cameras so often and yet said so little,” Mr Sukkar told Sky News contributor Steve Price. “He’s got nothing to say; he’s got no plan for the cost of living crisis that his government is responsible for, which begs the question, why on earth has he been out there if he’s got nothing to say and no relief to provide Australians. “All he can do is dodge and weave questions that are very straightforward, which are. Are you going to keep the tax cuts that the coalition delivered Australians, and there should be very unequivocal yes from him … but we don’t get that we get this squirming dodging constantly, and I think Australians are sick of that.”

The Australian’s Media Writer Sophie Elsworth has slammed Woolworths for “dividing people unnecessarily” because they are pushing these agendas “down our throats”. A YouGov poll on Peter Dutton’s Woolworths boycott has found only 14 per cent of Australians support the decision by the company to remove its line of Australia Day products. However, 66 per cent said their main concern is with excessive supermarket prices, and only 20 per cent support Peter Dutton’s boycott. “Of course, if you ask Australians do they care more about a boycott or the cost of their fruit and veggies and groceries, it’s pretty obvious what they’re going to say is more important,” Ms Elsworth told Sky News host Paul Murray. “While a lot of people won’t boycott Woolworths, they are doing their brand an awful lot of damage. “This latest business about putting up Indigenous flags – they’re just dividing people unnecessarily.”

Victorian Farmers Federation President Emma Germano says union strikes have a disproportionate effect on the economy as shipping to overseas countries are becoming unviable due to perishable goods sitting at the wharf. “We know that when unions strike – it has a disproportionate effect on the economy,” Ms Germano told Sky News host Peta Credlin. “We’re seeing things like shipping to Japan, which is ordinarily 16 days by sea, has blown out to 36 days. “Which makes that market completely unviable for us. “Particularly out of Victoria, one third of the exports are actually perishable agricultural goods, so it is going to have a huge impact on just the Victorian economy alone – essentially holding the country and its ports to ransom.”

Sky News contributor Joe Hildebrand says Queensland Premier Steven Miles’ decision to launch a review into infrastructure for Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics is “almost Monty Python” because “he himself approved” the project. Olympics boss John Coats says the Games are in jeopardy if the transport system isn’t upgraded. “Is it something of a left-wing cultural cringe against sport, where you don’t actually need this – it’s only bread and circuses for the masses, and we’ll announce it to win an election, but then after that we’ll quietly just cut the umbilical cord,” Mr Hildebrand told Sky News contributor Steve Price. “Steven Miles has now ordered a review into a $2.7 billion knockdown rebuild of the Gabba that he himself approved. “This is Yes Minister; this is almost Monty Python – I just don’t understand it.”

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu says it’s “clearly a two-person race” between Donald Trump and Nikki Haley ahead of the state’s primary. Mr Sununu said his preferred Republican candidate Nikki Haley is confident because her rival Ron DeSantis has “left the building”. “I mean Ron has left New Hampshire, he has no money, he has no staff, he’s literally not coming here,” he told Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan. “He’s just made an announcement a short time ago that he’s going to South Carolina – Nikki’s home state – so I’m not sure what he’s thinking. “This is a two-person race, this is Trump versus Haley – all the polls say so.”

Sky News contributor Joe Hildebrand has slammed the Australian Open’s decision to remove Australia Day celebrations as a “ridiculous virtue-signalling gesture” that is “counterproductive” to making any meaningful difference. The Australian Open has come under fire for scrapping Australia Day celebrations. Each year, they induct an Australian tennis legend into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame, in which they erect a bronze bust of the player. This year, it is Lleyton Hewitt, but they have changed the date of that event from Australia Day to January 24. “I think it’s just that absurdity of it,” Mr Hildebrand told Sky News contributor Steve Price. “The idea that these sorts of ridiculous virtue-signalling gestures are going to make any difference … is absolutely ridiculous – in fact, it puts people off even considering or wanting to address these issues. “This sort of stuff is what cost the Yes vote its victory … and it’s just so counterproductive, self-destructive, idiotic – you could use any name.”

Small Business Women Australia Chief Executive Amanda Rose says tennis legend Martina Navratilova's criticism of Naomi Osaka for her first-round loss at the Australian Open is “quite insulting”. Ms Osaka has admitted she needs to set realistic goals as she continues her return to the sport after giving birth to a baby girl six months ago. “The fact that she’s playing after having a baby six months ago is phenomenal,” Ms Rose told Sky News contributor Steve Price. “Now the issue I find wasn’t that she was talking about fitness … it was that she actually compared her to another lady who had a baby six months prior. “The second you start comparing people, then we’re getting into very murky waters … to point that out is quite insulting.”

There is a dangerous shift throughout Europe, with a wave of anti-farming policies being proposed across numerous countries. The change is being led by the World Economic Forum, arguing a shift away from farming is needed to lower climate emissions. But farmers are making their voices heard and taking to the streets to protest these policies. Just this week, German farmers descended upon Berlin to protest rising costs and the government’s plan to gradually eliminate agricultural fuel subsidies. In this Sky News Digital Original, we will expose how the war on farming will impact you, and why this rhetoric is sweeping across Europe. 00:00 Why German farmers are protesting 03:33 Compromise proposed 06:14 Support for farmers 08:23 Dutch farmers victory in 2023 10:45 Dangerous anti-farming rhetoric 13:15 World Economic Forum meets 15:07 When will the protests end?

Residents at an apartment complex in Sydney have been assured there is no immediate threat to their complex or to units within it. Sky News Australia was joined by New South Wales Building Commissioner David Chandler to discuss the development. “It’s been nipped in the bud – the work is still to be done, the building will be rectified, and there is no risk to the occupants of that building,” Mr Chandler told Sky News Australia. “We will get this rectified. “The developer clearly understands we will be rectifying this.”

A Perth beach will remain closed on Thursday as an algae bloom lingers on the coast. The thick, brown sludge, commonly known as 'Sea Sawdust', stretches three kilometres along Mullaloo Beach. Scientists claim hot and calm conditions caused the phenomenon. Locals say this is not the first time, and it is only going to get worse. Reportedly, the beach is expected to reopen on Friday.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has launched a review into the master plan for the 2032 Olympic Games. The Premier is hopeful an independent review into big-ticket venues for the Olympics will find better options. The review will be led by former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk and is focused on getting the best value for money and creating a lasting legacy. The $2.7 billion redevelopment of the Gabba is set to be reevaluated. This move effectively means the Premier has bowed down to concerns from Cricket Australia and the AFL.

Royal biographer Robert Hardman has revealed that Prince William could break away from the Church of England when the time comes and he takes over as the next king. “In royal circles, it is no secret that he does not share the King’s sense of the spiritual, let alone the late Queen’s unshakeable devotion to the Anglican church,” Mr Hardman wrote of Prince William. According to a senior Palace figure, Prince William respects the institutions, but he isn’t “comfortable in a faith environment”. Royal biographer and commentator Angela Levin says Prince William is “not at all religious,” unlike King Charles III and the late Queen Elizabeth II. “He’s thinking that ... when the time comes, he doesn’t want to be leader of the church, which is what King Charles does,” she told Sky News host Paul Murray.

Hollywood heavyweight Arnold Schwarzenegger has been detained at a Munich airport over a luxury watch. Airport officials claim the actor was briefly detained after he failed to declare a $42,000 watch intended for a climate crisis charity auction. The 76-year-old was allegedly held at the airport for three hours and was fined $58,000 before his release. The main customs office in Munich has initiated criminal tax proceedings as the watch had failed to be registered. The actor was travelling to Vienna for the annual Austrian World Summit climate conference.

Houthi rebels are escalating their attacks on the Red Sea, targeting a US vessel. The White House is classifying the militant group as a terrorist organisation, reversing a decision made at the start of the Biden administration. This week, the Houthi’s terror continued with strikes on two commercial vessels, including an American-owned ship. The US initiated more strikes on Tuesday to destroy other Houthi ballistic missiles which were prepared to launch. The Houthi’s new classification as a specially designated global terrorist group differs from being labelled a foreign terrorist organisation – the label they held under the Trump administration before President Biden revoked it.

The unemployment rate in December has remained stable at 3.9 per cent. Sky News Business Reporter Edward Boyd says, “The Reserve Bank and plenty of economists out there are pricing in the unemployment rate to slowly continue rising throughout this year”. “The unemployment rate really went down a lot in November 2022. “Since then it’s gradually bounced around a little bit but slowly been increasing and it is now on a bit of an upward trend.” The figures were released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at 11:30am on Thursday.

Queensland could be facing a new cyclone threat. A low-pressure system is expected to deepen over the coming days as it tracks away from the coast. It’s then expected to make a U-turn next week. Queensland Premier Steven Miles says locals should be enacting their cyclone plan. “We’ve always been preparing for more cyclones to come – North Queenslanders and Far North Queenslanders, they’re used to this,” Mr Miles said.