Liberal Senator Dave Sharma says Australia “should be supporting” the United States' request to protect ships in the Red Sea. Mr Sharma’s comments come after Iranian-backed Houthi rebels began launching ballistic missiles and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Australia has joined 43 nations in condemning the Houthi attacks. “I’m puzzled that it has taken so long,” Mr Sharma told Sky News Australia. “I’m horrified that the answer seems to be trending in the no direction.”

Philosopher and Author Sam Harris says social media platforms “have to be moderated”. Mr Harris’ comments come as Elon Musk unbanned conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from social media platform X. “If they’re not moderated, if you’re not cleaning up some of the toxicity … any of these other mainstream platforms would be like 4chan or 8chan,” Mr Harris told Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan. “It’ll just be a completely sociopathic free-for-all. “Nobody wants that”.

The Opposition has blasted the Victorian government over the emergency call wait time in the state. A screenshot showed that 11 Victorians were on hold for over one minute. Victorian Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier said it’s not good enough and that no Victorian should be waiting outside the target time for their emergency call to be answered. “It's unacceptable at a time when we're coming into this busy Christmas period when an emergency response ... need to be answered in a timely fashion,” Ms Crozier said. It comes as disgruntled emergency call takers in Victoria are blowing the whistle on wait times and staffing levels as part of protected industrial action. Call takers are calling for more staff, better training, and a pay increase for trainees, which currently sits at $48,000 a year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says knowing New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon for a very long period of time is a “good thing” for both countries. “It means our relationship is not starting – it's continuing,” Mr Albanese said. The PM listed the number of milestones for the Australia-New Zealand relationship. “40 years of the Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement, 50 years of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement and 80 years of reciprocal diplomatic representation. “Our common values that we have as nations mean that there are great opportunities for us to work together on closer economic ties, closer social ties and working together in the international community to meet our common objectives.”

Philosopher and Author Sam Harris part of the remedy for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine would be to “disenfranchise the religious maniacs on the Israeli side”. Mr Harris’ comments come as Israel faces criticism against the scale of their attack in Gaza with some claiming it to be religiously motivated. “Those religious claims upon real estate in the Middle East are not justified,” Mr Harris told Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan. “The settlements in the West Bank are certainly provocative and they should be disallowed. “If we’re ever going to get to a two-state solution part of the remedy there is to disenfranchise the religious maniacs on the Israeli side.

New footage has been released of thousands of migrants waiting to be processed in Eagle Pass, Texas as the situation at the border escalates. Americans have been reacting to the vision on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Why even have a border if it's not protected properly?” one user asked on X. "An open border is not a border," another user wrote. There were a record 12,600 encounters at the southern border on Monday, according to Fox News sources. Fox News reporter Bill Melugin said the situation is “getting worse”.

The threat from a large bushfire burning in northwest New South Wales has begun to ease. Rain is now falling across the fireground at Duck Creek near Narrabri. The fire is still out of control and has burnt more than 121,000 hectares so far. The Newell Highway remains closed between Narrabri and Coonabarabran. Locals in Baan Baa, Wilala, Goolhi, Rocky Glen, Stannix Park, Jacks Creek, Bohena Creek and Wynella are being told to monitor conditions.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon touches down in Sydney this morning to meet with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. It comes as the country's leader declares the long-standing issue of around 501 deportees now resolved. In Sydney, Luxon and Albanese are expected to focus on regional security and cross-Tasman trade. Albanese flagged the need for having an “enhanced economic relationship” with New Zealand. The trip marks Christopher Luxon’s first official overseas visit since being sworn in as prime minister three weeks ago.

Jaffas fans are outraged by Woolworths’ decision to remove the Allen’s confectionary product from shelves. The popular item is no longer being stocked in Woolworths stores across the country. Jaffas were axed by the supermarket giant after an internal review. Woolworths defended the move saying they only stock products that have the “broadest customer appeal”. The treat can still be picked up in select supermarkets including Big W and Coles.

E-scooter riders could soon be subject to breathe testing under new powers that could be granted to police in Queensland. The potential new laws include cyclists, e-scooters, and other personal mobility devices. New transport Bart Melish has confirmed the Government is considering the amendments. Police currently do not have the power to randomly breathe test riders. They are relying on arrests to breathe test at police stations.

Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, is under a pollution warning due to gasses released from a volcanic eruption. A nearby fishing town was evacuated last month in preparation, after weeks of intense quake activity. Eyewitnesses have described the sky being 'lit up in red' as the lava burst from a crack around three kilometres long. Experts said the lava is unlikely to reach any populated areas, even though the eruption could last for several months. Volcanic activity had been recorded in the region as early as October, with authorities closely monitoring seismic activity in the peninsula in the days leading up to the eruption.

ADF rescues stranded flood victims, the government to consider Benbrika’s release decision, Victorian triple-0 callers waiting over a minute, Australia declines to send warship to the Red Sea, RBA fears unemployment rise in 2024, over 100 dead after China earthquake. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Radio 2CC host Stephen Cenatiempo says Labor government IR reform bills have “sold out” businesses. “There’s no question they’ve sold out particularly small and medium business, but also some big business,” Mr Cenatiempo told Sky News host Chris Kenny. “This was driven by the unions from day one. “Whenever they try to push through one of these bills that’s got so much legislation in it. “You know there’s going to be something hidden in there.”

Outgoing Northern Territory chief minister Natasha Fyles has “no excuse” to use for resigning from her role, says Hobart City Councillor Louise Elliot. “It doesn’t seem right,” she told Sky News contributor Steve Price. “This is the Chief Minister of a mining state, with mining shares. “I really wouldn’t have thought it would be too hard to do a quick stocktake when you need to look at your tax return or whatever else. “I really find this perplexing.”

Radio 2CC host Stephen Cenatiempo says Natasha Fyles resigning as chief minister of the Northern Territory could set a “good precedent” for other politicians. “We’ve seen this kind of thing happen before … it’s always nothing to see here,” Mr Cenatiempo told Sky News host Chris Kenny. “It just shows the arrogance and complacency of our political class now that they think they can get away with this. “With not having to be as careful with their shareholdings as the codes of conduct insists they are. “Maybe it’s a good precedent, that some of our politicians might actually wake up to themselves.”

A Queensland resident has been caught swimming in his front yard during flood waters. Footage has emerged of a surprisingly calm man wading in waist-deep flood waters during the severe flooding in far north Queensland. Hobart City Councillor Louise Elliot has called the person “down to Earth”. “We need more of that,” she told Sky News contributor Steve Price. “That’s the true Australian spirit there.”

Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O’Brien says if the Opposition gets into government at the next federal election, they will come at Australia’s energy policies from a “very different angle”. Mr O’Brien told Sky News host Chris Kenny that instead of coming at it politically, it needs to be driven by “economics and engineering”. “So that we actually have a total system cost planned for the Australian grid. “That means a balanced mix of technologies. “Each technology doing what it’s best doing on that grid.”

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr says Port Douglas was the only place which was not affected by flooding. While a few regions affected by the havoc of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper are beginning their clean-up, many areas are still severely inundated from the severe storms of Far North Queensland. “We got a bit of wind blown during the cyclone itself, but these floods have been from Mossman and north of the shire,” he told Sky News contributor Steve Price. “Port Douglas is sitting there ready to take tourists as soon as we can get them here. “Unfortunately – the Captain Cook Highway is blocked and it could be quite a few weeks before that’s opened up, but there will be other accesses to get into Port Douglas, and we certainly hope in a couple of weeks time … tourists will come back to us and enjoy Port Douglas like they always do.”

Cairns Mayor Terry James has encouraged tourists to visit Far North Queensland with the city of Cairns itself “pretty well unscathed” from flooding. The region’s tourism sector is expected to take a $60 million hit after being impacted by severe flooding. “We would like to see them (tourists) back next week,” Mr James told Sky News host Chris Kenny. “The Great Barrier Reef is still there, the airport is back open, the harbour is open, we will be ready for business. “We need to support some of these operators, they have done it very tough.”

Victoria Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell says the Labor state government is shrinking the “economic pie” for businesses impacted by taxes at a time when they should be creating opportunities for everyone. “When business are impacted by state government taxes here in Victoria they’re making their next big investment decision in another state,” Mr Rowswell told Sky News contributor Steve Price. “That’s bad for our economy here in Victoria. “Bad for Victorian jobs, and it means we’re actually shrinking the economic pie. “At a time when we need to be creating opportunity for everyone.”