Australian news and politics live: Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed to Canberra

Independent MP Sophie Scamps has skipped parliamentary Question Time in protest of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia.

Ms Scamps said in a statement she “deeply disagrees” with the visit and warned that the invitation “normalises the atrocities that have occurred in Gaza over the past two years”.

Fellow independents Warringa MP Zali Steggall, Curtin MP Kate Chaney, and Monique Ryan were in the chamber, however, they have all expressed concerns over the visit.

Ms Steggall, who has previously stated the invitation shouldn’t have been made, used her question to press the PM on the state visit.

Independent Senator David Pocock has also said the Government should “admit this was a mistake”, given the Israeli President’s visit had further fractured social cohesion.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he’s raised concerns over the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his state visit to Australia in the wake of the Bondi massacre.

“Australia has increased our aid for and we will continue to,” the PM told QT.

“We have spoken about humanitarian aid as well with the Israeli government and with the Israeli President.

“The issue of the protection decoration is about honouring the courage and kindness of Zomi Frankcom and her fellow aid workers.

“We honour Zomi and we say to her family that our sincere condolences on what is a tragic loss and we will continue to work each and every day to do our best to ensure there is transparency and there is appropriate action.

“I must say the Israeli President has said he will engage and come back to the Australian Government about the issues that we have raised.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed he has used the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to raise concerns over the war in Gaza and mentioned the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.

His remarks came after a question from Warringa independent Zali Steggall, who asked if the government would push for an independent war crimes investigation into her death and what accountability the PM would request of Mr Herzog.

“One of the issues that I have raised is Zomi and her six World Central Kitchen colleagues. These deaths were a tragedy and an outrage,” the PM said.

“We have made it clear that remains the Australian Government’s position and we’ve also made clear our expectation that there be transparency about Israel’s ongoing investigation into the incident. We continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges.”

Speaker Milton Dick gave a stern warning to MPs to improve their behaviour and mind their language ahead of Question Time starting.

He notes that it has been a “particularly combative week” but says no matter the pressures inside the chamber or outside of it, politicians should be setting the standard of behaviour.

The Speaker warned that he had stronger powers in this term to boot people out for bad behaviour.

He then gave the floor to independent Allegra Spender, who said people contact her all the time to say if they behaved as politicians did at their own workplaces, schools or community groups, they’d be thrown out.

“People are sick of politicians saying, ‘Do as I say not as I do’,” she said.

Two more Chinese nationals have been charged with foreign interference offences over alleged links to a spying plot against a Buddhist community organisation in Canberra.

The Australian Federal Police and ASIO have announced that a 25-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman are expected to face the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday, each charged with one count of “reckless foreign interference” under the Criminal Code.

“The AFP will allege the pair worked with the woman charged in August, 2025, under the direction of a Public Security Bureau in China, to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association,” the statement said.

AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said foreign interference is a serious crime that undermines democracy and social cohesion.

“Australia is not immune to foreign interference, and we should not expect this arrest will prevent further attempts to target our diaspora communities,” Assistant Commissioner Nutt said.

Isaac Herzog, Sam Mostyn and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles posed for photos in the drawing room of Government House, where Mr Herzog signed the welcome book.

Anthony Albanese did not attend the talks; it’s understood this is because he is slated to meet the Israeli President later this afternoon.

Ms Mostyn said she was delighted to welcome Mr Herzog and his wife to Government House and presented a photo of Mr Herzog’s father, Chaim Herzog, during his trip to Australia in 1986.

Mr Herzog said he was “honoured to see his father’s photo here”.

Ms Mostyn described Government House as a “place of peace where all are welcome”.

“I think it’s terribly important your visit stands with those who are grieving,” she said.

Mr Herzog said both Australia and Israel “share the need to fight anti-Semitism with no doubts… so we uproot this phenomenon,” adding that he shares “the hope that we can bring the relations between our nations on a renewed path”.

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Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi has joined protesters in front of Parliament House, denouncing Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit.

The senator has accused him of being a war criminal, condemned Anthony Albanese for inviting and hosting him, and labelled Labor MPs as “cowardly politicians” who are trying to “gaslight” the Australian public.

“The Prime Minister is going to warmly welcome and shake the hand of a war criminal in here today who has signed… and autographed bombs which will kill Palestinians,” she told the crowd of hundreds.

“I have long lost respect for the Albanese Government, but never in even my wildest dreams could I have imagined that they could reach such a low…. and then to turn around and lecture us about ‘social cohesion’. Labor has shown exactly who they are.”

“The cowardly politicians in that building behind us gaslight us. They don’t want us to believe our own eyes, but they will never stop us. They will never stop us from telling the truth.”

While Isaac Herzog poses for photos with Governor-General Sam Mostyn, at nearby Parliament House a couple of hundred protesters have gathered out the front.

Greens MPs attended the rally, as did independent senator David Pocock, who earlier today said the Government should “admit this was a mistake” given the Israeli President’s visit had further fractured social cohesion.

Speakers at the rally say a representative of a “genocidal maniac state” shouldn’t have the “red carpet rolled out” by the Albanese Government.

Mr Herzog’s arrival, who was accompanied by his wife Michal, was welcomed by a ceremonial 21-gun salute by the Federation Guard and followed an inspection of the guard.

Mr Herzog will attend multiple events in Canberra, including meetings with Mr Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.

Arrivals were closely monitored and only pre-approved people were allowed into Government House ahead of Mr Herzog’s arrival.

Protesters positioned at the Government House lookout could be heard yelling in the background.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has arrived at Government House, the first of multiple engagements with senior Australian officials, including Anthony Albanese.

Senior politicians including Speaker Milton Dick, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley were in attendance, as well as Jewish MP Mark Dreyfus, Australia’s special envoy to combat anti-Semitism Jillian Segal and Governor General Sam Mostyn.

Israel’s outgoing ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon also attended the event, as well as senior bureaucrats including the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Steven Kennedy, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Betty Pavelich and Paul Kenny, Special Operation Command, who represented the Defence Force Chief.