Women’s Forum CEO Rachael Wong reveals her concerns with the equality bill being introduced in NSW parliament which could “effectively eradicate” female-only spaces. Independent MP Alex Greenwich introduced the bill to the state parliament in August 2023 which is set to be debated on 8 February. “Men who identify as women will be able to have that legally recognised in law,” Ms Wong said. “And be able to access for example – female prisons, bathrooms, changing rooms, refuges, all those kinds of things. “There won’t be anything women can do to stop them from being included in those, what should be, female-only spaces.”

Nationals Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie has taken aim at the Labor government’s stage three tax cut changes which she claims are “about maintaining power”. Ms McKenzie said the federal government’s move appears to be motivated by winning the upcoming Dunkley by-election. “It’s very hard not to be cynical that this is actually about winning a by-election and maintaining power rather than actually keeping faith with the Australian people,” she told Sky News Australia. “Because he (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) was very, very adamant he was a man of his word. “Well guess what, it turns out he’s not.”

Women’s Forum CEO Rachael Wong discusses the upcoming equality bill set to be debated in NSW parliament and the harms she believes it could impose on women and children. Independent MP Alex Greenwich introduced the bill to the state parliament in August 2023 which is set to be debated on 8 February. “It includes a whole raft of incredibly concerning forms,” Ms Wong said. “It’s being introduced under the guise of equality for LGBT people. “And yet at the same time, undermines protections and rights for women and children.”

Victoria's government will dig up more than one million cubic metres of contaminated soil as it begins the first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop. 6,000 of those cubic metres are category A waste which can contain toxic gases and which cannot be handled without treatment. It has sparked concerns over delays to the project after the West Gate Tunnel project was delayed for three years. But Treasurer Tim Pallas says the government has learned from the lessons of the West Gate Tunnel. “I think having been a little bit more conservative about how we manage it, having been experienced and learnt from the lessons of the West Gate Tunnel, I think people can have a fair degree of confidence that we’ve got this covered,” Mr Pallas said during a press conference.

Emirates Airlines President Sir Tim Clark discusses why government mandates on sustainable aviation fuel is “not the way to do it”. Sir Clark sat down with Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood to discuss the future of fuel in the aviation industry. “Today the airline community … would be using SAF if they could,” Sir Clark told Mr Greenwood. He pointed out that there is simply “not enough” sustainable fuel being produced while demand for travel continues to grow. “We need to face the reality of what we can do.”

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is the only one left in the Republican race against former President Donald Trump. Winning the ‘first in the nation primary,’ the former US President solidified his lead as the Republican nominee for President. Ms Haley, however, has vowed she will fight on. The former South Carolina governor needed a bigger win in the New Hampshire primary to threaten Donald Trump’s lead, losing but scoring enough votes to stay in the game. “This race is far from over,” Ms Haley said.

Expelled NSW Liberal State Executive Member Matthew Camenzuli says Australians “don’t want” the Liberal Party to be “left-wing”. Mr Camenzuli says they “don’t want their Liberal Party” to be Teals either. The Expelled NSW Liberal State Executive Member told Sky News hosts Rita Panahi, Rowan Dean and James Morrow that the Liberals need to see “more political courage”. “It’s a matter of leadership and political courage at the top,” he said. “We need to see more political courage; we need to see more strength at the top.”

Australia has encountered a “perfect storm of headwinds” making it very difficult to deliver the amount of housing the country needs, according to REA Group Executive Manager of Economic Research Cameron Kusher. After rising 5.5 per cent last year, capital city home prices will come under more pressure this year unless the expected interest rate cuts turn up in a timely manner. The ongoing lack of home construction is adding more pressure on the supply side which could push up prices even further. “The challenge at the moment, ultimately in the market, is that the cost of building new homes has gone up significantly,” Mr Kusher says. The federal government aims to deliver 1.2 million homes over the next five financial years. Mr Kusher says there is “a lot of work to be done” if the Australian government hopes to achieve its housing target. In partnership with REA

As the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine nears, new recruits have been training in the country's east in preparation to join the Ukrainian People's Army. The majority of the new recruits are middle-aged soldiers. Of the many Ukrainian men who have joined the army, it is unknown how many voluntarily joined and which ones were caught in a growing conscription. Despite the new recruits joining the nation’s army, there are still calls for more military aid to be sent to them. Ukrainian soldiers have been forced to innovate their weaponry, strapping bombs to drones to fly towards the Russians.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refused to apologise for breaking his election promise on stage three tax cuts. Mr Albanese sat down with Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell to discuss the changes to the stage-three tax cuts. The Prime Minister told Mr Clennell his government had “made the right decision” for the “right reasons”. He says their change of position was not “driven by politics”. “This is about putting people before politics”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he “accepted the outcome” from the Australian people after the Voice to Parliament referendum. Mr Albanese says he was “disappointed” and saw it as a “lost opportunity to advance reconciliation”. “I make myself accountable and I was disappointed with the outcome,” he told Sky News Australia. “I accepted responsibility as Prime Minister for it. The Prime Minister says the government is continuing to “look for ways in which we can close the gap in a practical way”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sat down with Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell to discuss the stage three tax cut changes. During the interview the Prime Minister discussed the changes, cost of living crisis and demands from the Greens. The Prime Minister says his government made the “right decision” for the “right reasons”. “When economic circumstances change it will be irresponsible to not change economic policy – we’ve been upfront about that. “This is a change of our position, but it is a change of our position not driven by politics – it’s driven by looking after people.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed not to bend demands by the Greens and alter his stage-three tax cut changes but will still enter into negotiations with the party for support. Mr Albanese told Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell that this is the government’s “plan”. “This is our plan,” he said. “We will put it to the parliament – we’ll put it first to the house of representatives, we will put it to the senate, and I am very, very confident that people will look at the two plans which are there. “One of which leaves a whole lot of people behind ... and gives them nothing.”

A fire on board a tanker in the Gulf of Aden has now been put out with all crew on the vessel reported to be safe. The fire started following a missile strike claimed by Houthi rebels. The United States says it has destroyed another Houthi anti-ship missile aimed at the Red Sea. The US strike came just hours after Houthi rebels based in Yemen attacked the Marlin Luanda. The tanker was being operated on behalf of trading firm Trafigura which has confirmed the vessel is heading towards safety.

Queensland Labor MP Jim Madden has resigned from parliament effective immediately. He has revealed he will be running for Ipswich City Council in the March local government elections. Mr Madden is alleged to have bullied and harassed previous electorate staff members – breaching party rules. He had initially intended to leave parliament at the October state election. His retirement will see a by-election held in the seat of Ipswich West – which Labor holds with a margin of 14 per cent.

Australian solo rower Liz Wardley has set a new race record in the ‘World’s Toughest Row’. She crossed the finish line in Antigua in the Carribean after racing at sea for 44 days. The 45-year-old rowed her seven-metre boat almost 5,000 kilometres across the Atlantic. Liz endured some tough conditions and, in the last 24 hours of the race, capsized in wild seas. “Getting off the boat and stepping onto the dock was definitely an amazing experience – I couldn’t actually stand up,” Ms Wardley told Sky News Australia. “It took a lot out of me. “Just getting to the finish line – a massive accomplishment. “I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy feat, but coming in as the third solo ... and taking out this record – I'm a bit lost for words ... I’m extremely proud of my achievement and also everyone who’s been around me to help me.”

King Charles is “doing well” after undergoing scheduled prostate surgery yesterday. The monarch arrived at the London clinic accompanied by Queen Camilla. It is the same private facility where Princess Kate is recovering from surgery. King Charles made his health problem public as a way of sending a message to other men to get their prostates checked. Britain’s National Health Service said there had been a 1,000 per cent increase in visits to its webpage giving advice on prostate enlargement since the monarch’s diagnosis was revealed last week.

Australia has paused funding for a key United Nations agency in Gaza after allegations emerged staff members were involved in the October 7 attacks. On Friday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said several employees were allegedly involved in the Hamas attacks on Israel. “To protect the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay,” UNWRA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement. “These shocking allegations come as more than two million people in Gaza depend on lifesaving assistance that the Agency has been providing since the war began. “Anyone who betrays the fundamental values of the United Nations also betrays those whom we serve in Gaza.” Foreign Minister Penny Wong released a statement today saying the allegations were ‘deeply concerning’ and funding for the agency would be ‘temporarily paused’. “We welcome UNRWA’s immediate response, including terminating contracts and launching an investigation, as well as its recent announcement of a full investigation into allegations against the organisation,” she said in the statement.

After being held in Guantanamo Bay for almost two decades, two Malaysian men have today been sentenced to 23 years in confinement for their involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings. Mohammed Farik Bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep both pleaded guilty to charges of war crimes last week. Their sentences won’t be reduced by time served. However, under the terms of a secret pre-trial agreement, they could be freed by 2029. 202 people died in the attack, including 88 Australians.

Aryna Sabalenka has won the women’s Australian Open in straight sets. She is the first woman to win back-to-back Australian Open titles in 11 years. She beat her opponent, Qinwen Zheng, 6-3, 6-2. She is currently ranked number two, behind Iga Swiatek. It is her second Grand Slam singles win after last year’s Australian Open win.