Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has joined a raft of politicians condemning a suspicious fire at a Melbourne synagogue.
A large blaze engulfed the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea in Melbourne’s south-east on Friday morning.
Albanese called it a “deliberate, unlawful attack”, saying antisemitism has no place in Australia, and later labelling the attack a “shocking crime” and “attack on Australian values”. The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, visited the scene on Friday afternoon, saying she was “disgusted” by the attack as she pledged $100,000 for rebuilding work at the synagogue.
- Maggie Tabberer dies at 87 | Tributes poured in for the television personality after her daughter confirmed her death in a post to Instagram.
- Agency overseeing Aukus deal paid $9.5m for management advice | The Australian Submarine Agency, facing a “ruthless” government-ordered review, is paying consultants McKinsey $9.5m for management advice.
- Immigration department speeding up humanitarian visas for Palestinians | The immigration minister, Tony Burke, confirmed that “a bit less than half” the Palestinians who arrived in Australia on tourist visas have been transferred over to humanitarian visas.
- Workers picketing Woolworths’ Melbourne warehouse called ‘capricious’ | Woolworths has described a picket line outside one of its key distribution centres in Melbourne as a “metaphorical gun” pointed at the company’s head, as the supermarket giant seeks to restart warehouse operations amid an industrial dispute.
- Why has NSW ruled out what health experts say is the ‘best way forward’ on drugs? | Experts and academics have expressed their disappointment at the state government’s decision to rule out decriminalising drugs at its second drug summit.
- Indigenous Australians recover human remains taken by Germany 120 years ago | Five sets of ancestral remains from Australia held in German museum collections since the 19th century were handed back at a ceremony that a community representative described as a sad but “very joyful” moment.
- Top Afghan cricketers urge Taliban to reverse ban on women’s medical education | Two Afghan cricketers have called on the Taliban to reverse a decision to bar women from education and medicine.
- South Korea ruling party leader says country risks ‘great danger’ unless President Yoon suspended | The South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, could put citizens in “great danger” if he is not suspended, said Han Dong-hoon, the head of the ruling party, on Friday.
- House Republicans vote to block release of Matt Gaetz ethics report | The House on Thursday voted 206-198 to block the release of the ethics committee’s long-awaited report investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and potential illegal activities involving former Florida Republican representative Matt Gaetz.
