Key Takeaways:
- The Australian government will introduce legislation to address hate speech and gun laws in response to the Bondi terror attack.
- A man was arrested for wearing a weighted vest covered in duct tape near a commemoration for the Bondi terror attack, but charges are likely to be dropped.
- A state funeral will be held for former Nationals leader Ron Boswell.
- Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has pulled out of the Adelaide Writers’ Week in protest of the festival board’s decision to rescind an invitation to Palestinian Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah.
- Queensland is experiencing heavy rainfall, with premier David Crisafulli warning of potential devastating flooding in the north-west.
- A woman has been charged with displaying a prohibited Nazi symbol in New South Wales.
Introduction to Current Events
The past 24 hours have seen a multitude of significant events unfold in Australia. From the announcement of new legislation to address hate speech and gun laws, to the arrest of a man for wearing a weighted vest near a commemoration for the Bondi terror attack, there has been no shortage of news. In this article, we will delve into the details of these events and explore their implications for the country.
Hate Speech and Gun Laws
The Australian government has announced plans to introduce legislation to address hate speech and gun laws in response to the Bondi terror attack. The proposed laws will aim to crack down on antisemitism and hate preachers, and will include measures such as increasing penalties for hate crime offences and creating a new offence for inciting hatred. The government will brief the opposition on the legislation this afternoon, and the bill will be publicly released tomorrow.
The Bondi Terror Attack
A man was arrested for wearing a weighted vest covered in duct tape near a commemoration for the Bondi terror attack. The 33-year-old man, Cleophias Machaya, was charged with offensive behaviour, but the charges are likely to be dropped. Machaya claimed he was wearing the vest to train for mixed martial arts, and the prosecution has admitted that the case against him is not strong.
Ron Boswell’s State Funeral
A state funeral will be held for former Nationals leader Ron Boswell on January 16, 2026. Boswell was a stalwart of the National party and a lifelong advocate for rural and regional Australia. He served as the leader of the National Party in the Senate from 1990 to 2007 and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020.
Adelaide Writers’ Week
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has pulled out of the Adelaide Writers’ Week in protest of the festival board’s decision to rescind an invitation to Palestinian Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah. Ardern was scheduled to discuss her memoir with the ABC’s Sarah Ferguson, but has joined a growing list of international writers and commentators who are boycotting the event.
Queensland Rainfall
Queensland is experiencing heavy rainfall, with premier David Crisafulli warning of potential devastating flooding in the north-west. The premier has said that the weather system is "breaking up" and has brought "welcome rain" to parts of the state, but major flood warnings remain in place.
Nazi Symbol Displayed
A woman has been charged with displaying a prohibited Nazi symbol in New South Wales. The 34-year-old woman was issued a court attendance notice for causing a prohibited Nazi symbol to be displayed in a public place and behaving in an offensive manner.
Sendle Closes
Australia Post delivery rival Sendle has ceased operations without warning. The company sent emails to business customers late on Sunday, warning that it would halt all pickup and delivery bookings "effective immediately". The shutdown is expected to hit small businesses the hardest, as Sendle had ties with online providers Shopify and eBay Australia.
Missing Woman
South Australian police will resume the search for missing woman Trisha Graf on Tuesday. Graf was last seen in the early hours of December 12 in the Roxby Downs area, and her car was found abandoned and unable to be driven near Blue Dam on December 13. Police have declared her disappearance a major crime and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne has appointed Emeritus Prof Glyn Davis as its interim vice-chancellor. Davis will begin his tenure on February 2 and will serve in the role while the university searches for a permanent vice-chancellor. He previously served as the university’s 19th vice-chancellor from 2015 to 2018.
Bushfires
Firefighters are working to control the southern flank of the Harcourt Ravenswood fire in Victoria. The fire is still burning in pockets in the area, and firefighters are building a control line and backburning to contain it. The weather forecast is "reasonably kind" to the firefighters, but another spike day with dangerous fire conditions is likely.
Share Market
The Australian share market has hit its highest level in 2026, following the release of US jobs data that suggested the world’s largest economy is in good shape. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 0.6% near noon on Monday, while the broader All Ordinaries was up 0.64%. The gains came after a positive lead from Wall Street, with the S&P500 closing Friday at an all-time high.