Lead
Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg has said he supports a drop in house prices if it helps young people get into the housing market. His comments came as opposition leader Angus Taylor defended his recent criticism of One Nation, and as the government faced questions over a new uranium export agreement with India.
Coverage comparison
ABC Australia's live blog covered a series of political developments on Friday and Tuesday. On Friday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong promoted a set of agreements signed with India, including a defence and security declaration. The same day, Greens senator David Shoebridge raised concerns about a uranium export deal. On Tuesday, Angus Taylor spoke to 2GB about his speech attacking One Nation, and Pauline Hanson responded to his criticism.
Key claims
Bragg on housing
Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg said he supports falling house prices if it helps young people get into the housing market. The comment, reported by ABC Australia, comes amid ongoing debate over housing affordability in Australia.
Taylor defends One Nation criticism
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor defended his criticism of One Nation, saying his speech was made with a "heavy heart" and that most of it focused on the Labor government. Speaking to 2GB, Taylor said: "The speech I gave last week ... 95 per cent of that speech was against Labor and how they're wrecking this country." He added: "I say what I say about One Nation with a heavy heart frankly, I say it with a heavy heart."
Taylor was responding to criticism from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who had urged him to stop "denigrating" her party. Hanson said she was not his enemy and appealed to him to work with her.
In his speech last week, Taylor had said One Nation's economic plan would "send us broke" and accused the party of being a "column of smoke." Referring to One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, Taylor said: "We had Malcolm Roberts in the paper today saying 9/11 was a false flag operation." Roberts has reportedly praised conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Taylor also said One Nation lacks a plan for the country's future, calling it "a one person show."
Taylor also said he would not have met with far-right activist Tommy Robinson, as Hanson did during a trip to the UK. "I wouldn't be spending time over in the UK and I certainly wouldn't be meeting with Tommy Robinson right now," he said, stopping short of directly criticising Hanson.
Uranium deal with India
Australia and India signed an export agreement for uranium to be used for peaceful purposes. The deal was announced alongside a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian PM Narendra Modi. The declaration expresses "concern" about geostrategic uncertainty and commits to strengthening defence cooperation.
Greens senator David Shoebridge expressed concern that Australian uranium could be used to bolster India's nuclear weapons program. India is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and possesses nuclear weapons. Shoebridge told ABC Radio National Breakfast: "There is a very real fear that uranium we provide to India could be leaked into their nuclear program and even if it isn't, if it's only used for their civilian program, frees up their other stockpiles of uranium to be fed into a growing nuclear weapons program."
Perspectives
Angus Taylor (Opposition Leader)
Taylor defends his criticism of One Nation as secondary to his main attack on Labor, saying his speech was 95% focused on the government's handling of the country. He insists his remarks were made with a "heavy heart" and cites One Nation's lack of a coherent plan and its association with conspiracy theorists as reasons for his rebuke.
Pauline Hanson (One Nation Leader)
Hanson responds to Taylor's criticism by asking him to stop "denigrating" her party. She describes herself as not his enemy and appeals for cooperation, suggesting that attacks on One Nation are unwarranted.
David Shoebridge (Greens Senator)
Shoebridge raises concerns about the uranium export deal with India, arguing that Australian uranium could either directly contribute to India's nuclear weapons program or free up other uranium stockpiles for that purpose. He highlights India's non-signatory status to the non-proliferation treaty.