News and politics recap: Pauline Hanson blasted for comments on domestic violence

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One Nation’s Chief of Staff James Ashby has defended Pauline Hanson’s comments about domestic violence on Sky News, after the party’s leader claimed Australia’s family violence problem was a “two-way street”.

“What she was trying to say is that there is an element of domestic violence that comes not just from men. We recognise that the largest cohort comes from men, but there is a cohort too that comes from women,” Mr Ashby said.

“She’s been in those scenarios herself as a woman and as a mother and she got herself and the kids out of that environment.”

He also accused media of “playing up” Hanson’s comments, which were made on a Queensland radio station earlier on Wednesday.

“I think the media had a little bit of responsibility here because she wasn’t playing down domestic violence,” he said.

“If you have a listen to the whole interview. . . She made it very clear she doesn’t accept domestic violence as an acceptable thing for anyone to put up with.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has claimed Labor’s gas tax will strike “the right balance” between Australian and international interests.

“We need to strike the right balance. . .with our international obligations in particular,” Mr Chalmers said on the ABC while in Adelaide for Labor’s national conference on Wednesday.

“If you look at the government’s agenda. . .We’ve changed the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, we’ve got the gas reservation policy, which is a really important part of this as well.

“We’ve recognised our international obligations at a time when fuel security is at a premium.”

Mr Chalmers says the government has taken “important steps” in regards to resource taxes but refused to reveal any details.

“It remains to be seen,” he said.

“As I understand it, the conference motion will go to the appropriate arrangements for tax on resources, tax on gas, in particular.

“What I’ve done. . . is to make sure that more PRRT is paid sooner, so that we can fund Medicare and fund tax cuts, and all of these other important elements of our budget.

“I know that there is an appetite in parts of the Australian community and parts of the party to go further than that, but we’ve already taken significant steps.”

One Nation leaders appear split over Pauline Hanson’s comments on Australia’s domestic violence “scourge”, after Ms Hanson labelled partner violence a “two-way street”.

Western Australian One Nation leader Rod Caddies says Ms Hanson’s comments wre “probably different words that I would use”.

“I’ve seen it happen both ways. However, we’re aware that there’s a larger amount of men (perpetrating) domestic violence against women,” Mr Caddies told Sky News.

“There’s programs in place and we’re well aware of the domestic violence of men against women. No one should be violent against anyone – women, children or men.”

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has been blasted for calling domestic violence a “two-way street” and suggesting victims could simply leave places where they were unsafe.

In the latest spotfire confronting the populist party, Senator Hanson was asked about men who abused their partners during a radio interview in Brisbane on Wednesday.

“Domestic violence is a scourge but look, I’ve been through it myself in my life. And I just feel if you’re not in a house where you feel safe, then you shouldn’t put up with it. If these women are getting abused by men out there, then don’t put up with it,” she responded.

​​​​Read the full story here. ​​​​

A leading demographer is concerned new gender identity terms in the upcoming Census to include the trans community will be too hard for the average Australian to understand leading to issues with data collection.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed the August 11 Census will collect new data including whether someone is a “cis man” or a “cis woman” to denote that their biological sex correspondents with their gender identity.

The term “cisgender” covers straight and gay men and women free of gender dysphoria, where their biological sex doesn’t align with their personal perception of gender.

The Census will collect information on whether an individual is a “trans man”, “trans woman” and “trans, not further defined” to include those who have had gender surgery or who are transitioning.

While sex has been asked at every Census since 1911, the 2026 survey will for the first time ask about an individual’s sex recorded at birth and their gender, with the options of male, female or “another term”.

Read more.

Donald Trump has reportedly agreed to a landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia.

According to US officials, the move would see the US help develop the kingdom’s civilian nuclear industry under a multi-decade partnership.

The proposed pact, expected to be worth tens of billions of dollars over 30 years, would position US companies at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear expansion and could also permit uranium enrichment within the kingdom.

But the deal, which was greenlit by Mr Trump last week and expected to be submitted to Congress for review in the coming days, could face headwinds among politicians who are against the spread of nuclear technology in the Middle East.

“The agreement could help revitalise the US nuclear industry, strengthen US-Saudi ties and deny Russia and China a strategically important role in the Saudi nuclear program,” former longtime senior State Department official Robert Einhorn said.

“But unless it contains adequate constraints, including on enrichment, it could increase nuclear proliferation risks in the Middle East and beyond.”

An alleged hacker has claimed to have accessed the personal details of around two million Origin Energy customers, prompting an urgent investigation by the energy giant following reports of a potential data breach.

Origin confirmed on Wednesday it was investigating a potential cybersecurity incident involving unauthorised access to some customer data, stressing it did not believe any customer credit card or bank account details had been compromised.

The hacker allegedly sent The Australian a sample of 50 customer records, containing names, addresses, emails, dates of birth, phone numbers and bill history.

Origin said it was working with forensic investigators to determine the extent of the incident. It is understood no ransom demand has been made.

Read the full story here.

Millions of Australians will receive a loud emergency alert on their mobile phones next week as part of the first nationwide test of the Federal Government’s new AusAlert system.

The new warning technology is designed to deliver emergency alerts faster and to more people during disasters such as bushfires, floods, cyclones and other life-threatening emergencies.

Here is everything you need to know before the national test on Monday, 27 July.

Read the full story here.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has slammed the Labor government for their handling of Australians with links to terrorist groups.

The outspoken senator wrote on X that, “ We do not want them back”; referring to so-called “ISIS brides” and the Perth-born doctor with ISIS links, Tareq Kamleh.

Her post comes after a statement was released earlier on Wednesday morning to say that terrorists would “never return” under a One Nation government.