Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham has slammed Labor premiers for their “pathetic and ridiculous” fight against the Reserve Bank, which should be “with the federal government” instead. The Victoria, Queensland and Western Australian premiers have demanded the Reserve Bank cut interest rates to help families cope with cost of living pressures. The RBA will meet for the first time this year next week and is expected to keep rates on hold. “It is rather pathetic and ridiculous to see some of the lecturing of the RBA coming from state premiers,” Mr Birmingham told Sky News Australia. “The RBA rightly has independence; it is completely preposterous to see these Labor premiers grandstanding in the way they are, wanting to try to pick a fight with the independent RBA. “If the premiers want to pick a fight anywhere, they should pick it with the federal government over whether or not they could be doing more.”

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham says Australian taxpayers’ money should not be “filtering through an organisation” where it could be going to those “promoting extremism and undertaking terrorist attacks”. Australia paused funding for the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees last week after the organisation said several employees were allegedly involved in the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7. “Concerns about UNWRA have existed for quite some time; indeed, they’ve been expressed prior to the October 7 attacks in relation to whether UNWRA employees have promoted extremist ideologies that have fostered the type of environment that saw Hamas rise,” Mr Birmingham told Sky News Australia. “Concerns were raised with the Albanese government late last year, even as they were increasing funding to UNWRA about whether employees had been directly involved in the October 7 terrorist attacks. “There is no denying there is huge human suffering and need for innocent civilians to get humanitarian assistance and support in Gaza, but not a dollar of Australian taxpayers' money should be filtering through an organisation where it could … be landing in the hands of those who are promoting extremism and undertaking terrorist attacks.”

Violent illegal migrants who were involved in the assault of two NYPD officers on Saturday were seen flipping off cameras following their release from custody on Wednesday. The weekend assault, which took place at Times Square, led to five arrests, with four of the suspects released only hours later. Jhoan Boada, 22, the suspect openly flipping off cameras, was released later than the other four suspects. Despite facing those serious charges, Boada didn’t seem too bothered by them or apologetic for his actions. The attack on the NYPD officers on Saturday initially led to four arrests for the attack, with the arrests since rising to seven. According to Fox News, the NYPD is still searching for at least two more suspects. Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul suggested on Wednesday the deportation of the suspects should be considered. “These are law enforcement officers who should never under any circumstance be subjected to physical assault," she said. "It's wrong on all accounts, and I’m looking to judges and prosecutors to do the right thing."

Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin has condemned the use of “abhorrent terms” by a “violent mob of thugs” at the Sydney Opera House on October 9, after the police investigation into the incident concluded. A police investigation into the pro-Palestine protests at the Sydney Opera House in the wake of the October 7 attacks has just concluded and found no evidence of anti-Semitic phrases being used. It was widely reported at the time that there were chants of ‘gas the Jews’ and ‘f*** the Jews’; however, police have said that this was not the case – that there was no evidence. In fact, one expert has said they were saying ‘where’s the Jews?’ “There were independent witnesses who came forward after that evening and they all said the same thing – that the phrase that was chanted was ‘gas the Jews’,” Mr Ryvchin told Sky News Australia. “We know what was said; the world knows what was chanted – it’s clear. “Regardless of what this police statement has now said – whether it’s ‘where’s the Jews’, ‘gas the Jews’, ‘f*** the Jews’ – these are equally menacing, abhorrent terms that were used and directed by one group of Australians to their fellow Australians. “The issue here isn’t the precise wording that was used. “The issue is that on the 9th of October, just two days after the Jewish people suffered the worst atrocity inflicted on them since the Holocaust, before Israel had even commenced its operation to defeat Hamas … a violent mob of thugs gathered at one of our most cherished sites to burn an Israeli flag, to celebrate these atrocities and to direct hatred and abuse and threats towards their fellow Australians. “As much as some see it in their interest to try to deflect and confuse the Australian public, that is the issue.”

TalkTV contributor and lawyer Paula Rhone-Adrien says she worries the definition of feminism has been “overtaken”. The Guardian reports one in six British men aged 16-29 say feminism has done more harm than good. Ms Rhone-Adrien joined Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan and TalkTV International Editor Isabel Oakeshott to discuss whether feminism is harmful. “Feminism is about the striving for equal rights, and that strive is by men and women,” Ms Rhone-Adrien said. “It’s not about … hating men.”

Independent MP Zali Steggall has called for Balgowlah Golf Course to be “transitioned” into a public space as there is “no shortage” of public golf courses in her electorate of Warringah on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Steggall has called for the local golf course to be shut and repurposed for other sports as there are “three public golf courses available” in a “five-kilometre radius”. “I think that the Telegraph and 2GB are misrepresenting a few things,” Ms Steggall told Sky News Australia. “The P&C approached me because they were blindsided by a consultation process happening over the school holidays when no one in the school community was there around the plans for the Balgowlah Golf Course. “That Balgowlah Golf Course has been on notice for four years that it was to be transitioned to public space for all the community to use – and not just playing golfers and sporting fields. “I’ve obtained an extension to the consultation period, so the whole community can have their say. “I have no issue with golf, but we have no shortage of public fields.”

Independent MP Zali Steggall says some people in her community are “very upset” about the Albanese government’s stage three tax cut reforms, but others are “understanding the need” to provide assistance to lower-income Australians. The Prime Minister announced the reform of the stage three tax cuts last week, breaking a much-promised election commitment. “It’s interesting to hear the commentary of where the Coalition’s going to sit on this,” Ms Steggall told Sky News Australia. “I understand many actually in the Nationals … that there is a moving view from the Coalition. “I still haven’t seen any draft legislation from the government. “I understand there’s negotiations with the Greens and the Coalition, so I really want to see where these land. “I’m getting lots of great feedback from the community: some people very upset, but some people understanding the need to provide more assistance to others that are on lower incomes.”

Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan says veganism may be “dead”, with a top vegan restaurant in Cheshire adding meat options to its menu to keep afloat. This comes following mass closures of vegan restaurants in the UK in recent years. Mr Morgan was joined by animal rights activist Jamie Logan and OutKick host Tomi Lahren to discuss the matter. “It doesn’t surprise me, this, why would anybody want to eat this gruel, is my first question,” Mr Morgan said. “Plus, it’s not healthy to lead a vegan diet – most science now has established that. “And now it turns out nobody wants to eat it in restaurants – I mean, it’s a triple whammy for the vegan world.”

A Sydney man and woman have died after both being hit by a train overnight. Emergency services were called to Berowra Railway Station in Sydney’s north just after midnight. Police believe a woman was being assisted off the tracks by a man when they were both hit by a freight train. The woman was aged in her 30s, and the man was in his 20s. The pair died at the scene.

Independent MP Zali Steggall says state governments should “focus on policies they can control” on cost of living relief rather than tell the Reserve Bank what decision to take at their board meeting next week. The Victorian, Queensland and Western Australian premiers have demanded the Reserve Bank cut interest rates to help families cope with cost of living pressures. The RBA will meet for the first time this year next week and is expected to keep rates on hold. “The beauty about the Reserve Bank is that it’s an independent body, and it’s very important for that, and we’ve just had a review of the powers of the Reserve Bank in the importance of its independence so that it can manage that policy and interest rates,” Ms Steggall told Sky News Australia. “Whilst I know we are all struggling and many in the community are hurting from the interest rate rises, they are absolutely independent of government, and so it’s really important that governments – state governments and federal government – focus on the policies they can control when it comes to assisting cost of living. “The RBA is its own responsibility when it comes to the interest rates.”

Two people are splitting the grand prize of this week’s record-breaking $200 million Powerball. One winner is from New South Wales. The other winner is from Queensland. Each winner will be taking home a whopping $100 million. The excitement over the substantial prize even caused ‘The Lott’ website to crash as punters raced to check their tickets.

British Formula One superstar Lewis Hamilton is set to make a move from Mercedes to rival team Ferrari. Neither team has confirmed the move, which is expected to take effect in the 2025 season. The seven-time world champion has failed to win a single race in the past two seasons. Hamilton holds the records for most race wins and most podium finishes and is the first and only black driver on the F1 circuit. Ferrari hasn’t won a Drivers’ Championship since 2007 when Kimi Raikkonen lifted the trophy.

The United States has approved plans for a series of strikes in Syria and Iraq in response to the drone attack on a US military base in Jordan. Strikes will target Iranian personnel and facilities in the countries. The US has blamed the attack on an Iranian-backed militia group. Officials say strikes will take place over multiple days, and weather conditions will likely determine when they are launched. President Joe Biden and other officials maintain they are not seeking a wider war in the Middle East. “We will continue to work to avoid a wider conflict in the region, but we will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our interest and our people,” US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

Sky News host Paul Murray says he had a “whole plan” after winning the Powerball but unfortunately he did not. “I’ll be honest, I had the same plan you did,” Mr Murray said. “But none of us won Powerball. “$200 million has gone, whether it’s been won or not we’ll find out in the next little while. “How would I spend $200 million? It is the fun thing about playing Lotto.”

Commentator Jason Morrison says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has always been “alongside the snakes” as a politician. Mr Morrison joined Sky News host Sharri Markson to discuss the government’s stage three tax cuts changes and stance on negative gearing. “He knew what was going on, he picked the sides, he had to play the game,” he said. “So he knows how quickly this escalates. “He’s a pretty experienced politician, which is not always a compliment, but he’s an experienced politician and he would sniff what’s going on.”

Australia’s most powerful energy producers have slammed legal claims and environmental hold-ups. Sky News host Caleb Bond said these are projects that are often “supported” by the federal government in some way or another. “But at the same time, federal money is being spent on this environmental defender’s office. “So the federal government is funding the people who go and tell the federal government that they shouldn’t have this project, that the federal government has championed. “It’s just mad.”

The Rubin Report host Dave Rubin says “diversity hire” Karine Jean-Pierre is “clearly not qualified” to be the White House Press Secretary. “It is an important job to be the press spokesman for the White House,” Mr Rubin told Sky News Australia host Paul Murray. There were these three soldiers killed in Jordan by a drone and 30 others injured and she fumbled through this talk “And basically said they gave their lives for the administration. “That is one of the craziest statements I have ever heard from someone in the United States government.”

Shadow Education Minister Sarah Henderson says there is a “full-blown teacher shortage crisis” in Australia. Ms Henderson told Sky News host Chris Kenny that it comes at a time when families can “barely raise the money” to put school lunches in their kids’ bags. “One in three children across this country are currently failing NAPLAN. “Our standards are declining dramatically. “Despite the fact we’ve had a 60 per cent increase in schools' funding over two decades.”

Sky News host Sharri Markson says Nikki Haley is a “solid way behind Trump” in popularity. Republican candidate Nikki Haley has posted on X (formerly Twitter) an image of Donald Trump and Joe Biden photoshopped standing together, with the caption ‘Grumpy Old Men’. Ms Markson said she has heard from sources close to the campaign that there is “a lot of criticism” about how she’s been running it. “She doesn’t have a slogan. “No-one actually knows what she stands for.”

Sky News host Andrew Bolt has reacted to a story which shows how easy it is to “fool” the ABC and “whip up a mob to hate” Israel and Jewish people. Arrests have been made after a Burgertory restaurant owned by a pro-Palestine activist was set on fire in Caulfield in Melbourne’s southeast last year. Moorabbin Investigation and Response Inspector Scott Dwyer said the attack was unrelated to the owner of the store, Hash Tayeh’s pro-Palestine activism. Mr Bolt said Mr Tayeh, however, before the arrests were made, told protesters in Melbourne he was a “martyr” who was being “intimidated for opposing Israel”. “The ABC seemed so impressed by this story of poor Hash Tayeh that it selected him to ask a question on Q and A, broadcast around the country, again posing as a victim of a hate crime,” he said. Mr Bolt said “plot twist” for the ABC and the left as there is “no evidence” that the two perpetrators are Jewish activists or pro-Israel extremists. “Agendas. Agendas. And this agenda seems to me to rely an awful lot on conspiracy theories, misinformation and lies,” he said.