Australia live news: NSW government in minority after MP moves to crossbench; Labor bets big on housing | Australia news

In September last year, the government lost a case in the federal court, which ordered it release a Syrian refugee it was holding in immigration detention indefinitely.

Yesterday, it pushed through new legislation which allows it to detain refugees indefinitely, potentially for the rest of their lives. The bill ostensibly, was written to strengthen Australia’s non-refoulement obligations: that is, confirming that it would not send refugees back to a place where they would face harm.

But it has also given ministers in the home affairs portfolio extraordinary powers of detention, and even to withdraw recognition of a person’s refugee status – their right to be protected from harm.

To return to the federal budget:

Jessica Sier reports:

Housing affordability is likely to remain a crippling problem for Australia’s low-income earners, community housing providers say, and Tuesday’s budget fails to address supply shortages and the rental crisis gripping the regions.

Although the industry is relieved housing affordability is on the national agenda, it said the government’s plan to provide $124.7m over two years to support homelessness and affordable housing falls short of the needed infrastructure spending.

“It’s just not going to change the dial on the bricks and mortar problems we have,” Rob Ellis, the general manager community services and housing at BaptistCare, a provider of community housing, said.

“We’re talking about women and children becoming homeless and having no place to go, and we often have to turn them away because we literally don’t have any houses. It’s terrible.”

“All of us were incredibly shocked and distressed by what unfolded yesterday afternoon.”

And with that, the premier’s strained press conference is done.

Berejiklian continues.

“As I understand it, he has not been contacted by police, and the extent of any allegations isn’t known.”

The premier learned of the allegations through media reports.

“After the reports came out, I spoke to him and asked whether he’d done anything wrong. He denied any wrongdoing. I asked him whether police had contacted him and he said no.”

There is a significant political element to this. The loss of Ward from the government benches following the resignation of Michael Johnsen (also over sexual assault allegations) has left the Berejiklian government in minority. There is a byelection for Johnsen’s former seat of Upper Hunter next weekend.

Gladys Berejiklian has spoken briefly to the media this morning about the allegations of sexual violence made against MP Gareth Ward.

“What transpired yesterday afternoon was extremely concerning and distressing. Mr Ward has done the right thing in stepping aside from his ministry and also the Liberal party room,” she said.

“At this stage I have no further information.”

The report of those allegations is here. Ward denies them.

We are reliably informed NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian will hold a press conference imminently. We shall bring you that when it happens.

Thursday night was the traditional budget-in-reply speech from the leader of her majesty’s opposition. The indefatigable Sarah Martin covered Anthony Albanese’s address to parliament:

Albanese will establish a $10bn social housing fund to build 30,000 affordable homes for vulnerable Australians and frontline workers if Labor wins the next federal election, as he promised to “deliver for working families” as prime minister.

He also pledged to create 10,000 energy apprenticeships, criminalise wage theft, and make employers responsible for workplace sexual harassment.

Saying Labor was committed to “building back stronger” after a pandemic that had seen Australians make incredible sacrifices, Albanese said the country deserved a government that was “worthy of your efforts”.

“I want Australia to emerge from this crisis stronger, smarter and more self-reliant, with an economic recovery that works for all Australians,” he said.

Morning fellow travellers. Friday. The end of the week beckons, the sunlit uplands of the weekend your reward. Ben Doherty with you for a little while.

Much moving this week. The budget has dominated the parliamentary week, with experts arguing the financial blueprint for the nation fails to address Australia’s housing shortage and homelessness.

Thursday night’s budget in reply speech from Anthony Albanese carried a $10bn pledge for a social housing fund if Labor wins the next election.

Internal documents released to Guardian Australia show the federal government tried to stop the publication of an academic paper that found it needed to drastically increase its spending on threatened Australian wildlife.

The prime minister has denied he spoke in error when described the formulation of Australia’s one-China policy, answering a question about support for Taiwan by referencing “one country two systems” – a policy that governs Hong Kong. There is no mention of Hong Kong in the transcript.

The NSW MP Gareth Ward has stepped down down as minister over sexual violence allegations, denying “any wrongdoing” but saying he will leave the Liberal party room while police investigate.

And, after accusations of online harassment and abuse against Andrew Laming, Scott Morrison’s warm welcome to the MP this week feels like a rebuke to Australia’s women, writes Sarah Martin.

The government also passed legislation allowing it to indefinitely detain refugees, a law written in response to being ordered by the federal court to release a Syrian refugee it was warehousing in detention.

Internationally, Oliver Holmes reports Israel’s military is drafting a plan for a possible ground operation in Gaza, as it presses ahead with a fierce air offensive on the enclave and as Hamas, the militant group that runs Gaza, fires volleys of rockets deep into Israel.

India’s rampant wave of Covid infections continues. More than 4,000 people died from the virus on Thursday, according to official figures. The real toll is likely factors higher.