Sky News host Liz Storer says the University of Sussex Hospitals has claimed that milk produced by transgender women is comparable to biological female breast milk. The University of Sussex Hospitals is a National Health Service trust in England. Ms Storer said society has reached a point of “such denial” of the differences between men and women. “That we are now telling people from some medical experts … that if you just take a cocktail of drugs, men can lactate. “And that milk is comparable to what any woman who’s ever breastfed.”

Sky News host Caleb Bond says a chemical called “Chlormequat” has been found in around 80 per cent of Americans which could cause infertility. “Extraordinary story out of the US today,” he said. “About a chemical called Chlormequat.” According to a New York Post article around 80 per cent of Americans test positive for chemical found in food which may cause infertility. Mr Bond said, “if this one particular chemical is getting through – how many others might there be floating around?”

A drug and alcohol ban for Parliament House is absolutely necessary, says GXO Strategies Director Cameron Milner. “Parliament House has to be a workplace of the 21st century,” he told Sky News host Sharri Markson. “If it’s good enough on a mine site or a construction site to have zero tolerance to not only alcohol but also illegal drugs, then Parliament House has got to be the same. “Parliament House can’t be a party house. “I am really worried about the use of illegal drugs – alcohol’s one thing, but illegal drugs in Parliament House is a real issue, and it has to be tested. “It should be mandatory for MPs, and if they’ve got nothing to fear, they’ve got nothing to hide, then they should do it.”

Times of Israel’s Haviv Rettig Gur says Israelis are “struggling to understand” what the world wants amid Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. This comes after Foreign Minister Penny Wong released a statement, declaring a planned ground offensive in Rafah would be “unjustifiable” and urged Israel to “not go down this path”. Israel is planning an operation into Rafah, a small city in the Gaza Strip, which currently shelters around 1.5 million displaced Palestinians. “And then the statement ends ‘and Hamas should removed from Gaza’ or something like that,” Mr Gur told Sky News host Chris Kenny. “And what frustrates Israelis with statements like that is that there’s never quite an explanation of how.”

‘To Di For’ Daily podcast host Kinsey Schofield says Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is currently the “most lucrative concert”. The singer has just wrapped up her Melbourne shows at the MCG, performing in front of the biggest crowds she’s ever played for. Her fans – known as ‘Swifties’ – are spending a lot of money not just to see the show but on merchandise. “I think that Taylor’s a money maker,” Ms Schofield told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “You and I have gone into the wrong business – we can make friendship bracelets too.”

Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie says Labor has “not been serious” about Australia’s defence strategy. Mr Hastie told Sky News host Sharri Markson that Labor has spent “no new money” since the Defence Strategic Review was handed down. “We’re not recruiting enough people into Defence,” he said. “I can tell you countless stories of people who want to serve but can’t for a whole range of reasons which are ridiculous. “And we’re not retaining enough people.”

Sky News host Sharri Markson reveals the Albanese government didn’t tell the public about the asylum seeker boat arrival for a matter of days before the news broke on Friday. The Prime Minister said he was unaware of the arrival on the West Australian coast on Friday afternoon, but a day earlier on Thursday, there was widespread knowledge of the illegal arrivals among Defence personnel. Ms Markson said she was contacted by an anonymous source on Thursday evening who told her: "I am led to believe that illegal boats are arriving and the army is involved in managing it and keeping it quiet." It is understood the illegal boats arrived on at least Thursday, potentially even Wednesday. Home Affairs refused to comment when asked about this on Friday, saying: "As this operation is ongoing, no further information is available." “This operation is not ongoing, it's done – the asylum seekers are now in Nauru detention centre so this seems to be a classic cover-up response,” Ms Markson said. “Confirming which day the asylum seekers arrived, if they even know this information, does not jeopardise national security, it only embarrasses the government and the authorities for their incompetence. “Clearly, something is not working in the national security apparatus when an illegal boat can bypass surveillance, maritime and border security and authorities for up to two days before anyone is any wiser. “The Prime Minister should know immediately if there's a boat arrival. You have to ask how can a journalist find out about this before the PM?”

REA Group Senior Economist Eleanor Creagh says housing market activity has continued the “strong momentum” seen during 2023. Ms Creagh said the housing market is expected to continue on a “stronger trajectory”. “The economy is expected to continue slowing over the year ahead,” she told Sky News Australia. “The unemployment rate is also expected to continue picking up a little bit, but overall, the housing market is expected to continue to perform.” She said auction clearance rates are “pretty solid” at the moment. In partnership with realestate.com.au

Sky News host Chris Kenny has questioned whether Labor’s border protection is a “security failure” or, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would put it, “people playing politics”. “This border protection thing – is this a security failure, is this a border protection issue?” Mr Kenny said. “Or as the prime minister would have it, it’s just people playing politics.” On Friday, about 30 asylum seekers from Pakistan and Bangladesh arrived in the remote community of Beagle Bay, about 100km north of Broome. The Australian Border Force began taking control of the situation under Operation Sovereign Borders before it was reported another group of asylum seekers had reached Australian shores just hours later.

Shadow Assistant Defence Minister Phil Thompson says the reduction in funding for Operation Sovereign Borders is a “massive failure” from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. About 40 men, reportedly from Pakistan and Bangladesh, were discovered near the small Indigenous community of Beagle Bay before being flown to offshore detention for processing. Mr Thompson told Sky News host Chris Kenny that the Prime Minister needs to “reverse that horrible decision” of reducing border protection funding. “Put that money back in now. “To be honest he should be increasing it.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “hasn’t worked out yet he’s the prime minister”, says GT Communications Gemma Tognini. “This prime minister feels like, and acts like, and speaks like someone who is still in opposition,” she told Sky News host Chris Kenny. “Like ‘nothing’s my fault, not my problem, my government’s going to cut a third of resourcing to this program, but it’s not my fault’. “This prime minister says, ‘can’t talk a call, I’m in the car’. “This is a problem, and it’s not just a problem for the prime minister in this portfolio, it’s a problem for the prime minister’s leadership – it’s weak, it’s directionless, and it’s undefined.”

RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins says health is an “essential right,” and the federal government needs to make sure investments are made in primary care. Her remarks come as medical professionals are calling for a $16 increase in Medicare rebates for consultations which are more than 20 minutes long. “We keep pouring more and more money into expensive hospitals,” Dr Higgins told Sky News Australia. “But prevention is better than cure. “Let’s put the money right at the start – keep people out of expensive hospitals, and make sure they stay in the community with their families and their supports.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s criticism over border security. Mr Albanese rejected claims that around 40 asylum seekers got into the country undetected due to “resourcing issues”. “Complete nonsense once again here from Peter Dutton,” Mr Albanese said during a media conference on Monday. “The people who were unauthorised arrivals into Western Australia just days ago now find themselves on Nauru, and they will not be settled here in Australia. “We have clear positions in place; we’ll continue to do so. “Peter Dutton will continue to be a cheer squad for things that actually undermine our borders.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signed a promise on a journalist’s arm and told him to get it tattooed. The Prime Minister wrote ‘no change to WA GST’ on the journalist's arm, before signing beneath it. “I reckon you should get a tat, and get a signature on the tat, I’d be happy to sign your arm if you like,” Mr Albanese told the journalist on Monday. “If you’re going to take it seriously and if we’re going to have a stunt, let’s do a good one, let’s go to a tattoo parlour and we can get it tattooed on. “You want something permanent, let’s get serious.”

Australia’s navy is set to be equipped with a major surface combatant fleet twice as large as planned when Labor came to government following a review. Defence Minister Richard Marles has included in a foreward to the review to be released on Tuesday: “This will see Navy equipped with a major surface combatant fleet twice as large as planned when we came to government. “And with more of these new surface combatants in the water and operational sooner.” Sky News spoke to Strategic Analysis Director Michael Shoebridge about the matter.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the Albanese government has “all sorts of problems” at the moment. Mr Dutton’s comments come after more than 40 asylum seekers were flown to Nauru to be placed in a detention centre on the island. “It’s clear that they don’t have the same surveillance that we had in place that we had in when we were in government,” Mr Dutton said. “The Prime Minister carried on with some stupid story about his phone not working in the car ... he was caught completely by surprise.” “I don’t think you can take this Prime Minister at face value, you certainly can’t take his word as his bond.”

Nationals Leader David Littleproud has insisted that the party’s Deputy Leader Perin Davey was not drunk at a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday last week. “Perin Davey has admitted she had a couple of drinks but she was not drunk,” Mr Littleproud told Sky News Australia. “If you look at the full 12 minutes of questioning that Perin put in at that Senate Estimates, she was fully coherent in terms of the questioning she put forward. “It was a long day and I think we all slur our words from time to time. "I’ve spoken to Perin a number of times over the weekend and she obviously has been upfront, she had a couple of drinks as most of us do to wind down and make sure that it’s within the prescribed environment, that no one goes beyond that."

Kite enthusiasts from across the world have descended on New Zealand for the country’s biggest kite festival. Since its inception the festival has drawn fans from across New Zealand and enthusiasts from across the world. Most of the kites were handmade with dragons, whales and more traditional designs being made. Otaki organisers say the Otaki Kite Festival attracts up to 30,000 visitors to the town. The event has cemented itself with the international kite flyers calendar.

Building costs have soared up to $60,000 in a single year, according to the latest Bureau of Statistics figures. The number of new houses being built in 2024 is set to nosedive to the lowest level in eight years. The government has suggested the solution to the housing crisis is more new homes. In Western Sydney, mayors are rallying against a New South Wales government proposal to add an extra tax on the construction of new homes in the region. Sky News Australia was joined by Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun to discuss the housing crisis.

Three-time Olympic medalist Shane Rose says he hopes “common sense prevails” after being stood down for wearing a mankini at an equestrian event. This comes after a complaint was made about his attire at a fancy dress showjumping competition. “I went into the competition as a fun competition,” Mr Rose told Sky News Australia. “I had no intention of offending anyone. “It’s a dress-up competition – people have worn bikinis before and I just thought it would be quite funny to come along in a mankini.”