Australia news live: Greens to push for 50c bus and train fares; Frydenberg blames Albanese for antisemitism rise

Key events
Victorian police have charged a man over a series of ‘Pam the Bird’ images graffitied on city landmarks.
The 21-year-old man, from Yarraville, was arrested on 30th January, police said in a statement.
He faces more than 50 charges including criminal damage, burglary, shop theft and theft of a motor vehicle.
Police allege he scaled and defaced the heritage listed Flinders Street Railway Station clock tower on 10 July 2024.
They allege he is also responsible for graffiti across the rail network, the ‘Cheese Stick’ column on CityLink, a television station building in Docklands, concrete silos on Mercer Street in Geelong and a hotel in South Wharf.
Along with a 39-year-old man from Abbotsford, also changed with graffiti offences, he was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
Frydenber accuses Albanese of failing to stem rise in antisemitism
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has accused Anthony Albanese of failing to set red lines not to be crossed after antisemitic attacks began ramping up in Australia, Australian Associated Press reports.
The former Liberal party deputy leader said the discovery of a caravan containing explosives and addresses of Jewish targets was just the latest in a long list of incidents that have left the Jewish community less safe.
“The Jewish community – and it’s about only 116,000 strong – is very scared. People are afraid to send their kids to school. People are afraid now to gather at places of worship,” he told the ABC’s 7.30 Report last night.
Frydenberg, who is Jewish, said he was personally “cautious and extra vigilant” after receiving “very serious threats” that he had referred to federal police.
He said antisemitism had gained a foothold in Australia and from the beginning the prime minister “should have set red lines that were not to be crossed” to make sure culprits were arrested, convicted and punished.
“Because of the absence of action those who hate and those who harm have been emboldened.”
Frydenberg said he backed a coalition call for minimum mandatory sentences for those who commit terror attacks.
Rabbi Zalman Goldstein, who heads the Maroubra synagogue in eastern Sydney, said his congregation was feeling defiant amid a rising tide of antisemitism and would not allow fear to take hold.
“The Jewish community is saddened to see this happening in Australia, and at the same time, the community is very strong and resilient – we don’t get deterred or intimidated by bullies,” he told AAP.
“Our strength comes from thousands of years of Jewish perseverance and survival. We’ve been through a lot.
“We’re not going to allow fear to take hold.”
Greens announce $8.1bn plan for 50c public transport fares
Sarah Basford Canales
The Greens will announce an $8.1bn plan to make all public transport fees across the country just 50 cents a ride as part of a suite of “Robin Hood” policies designed to alleviate the cost of living crisis.
On Friday, the leader, Adam Bandt, will reveal the plan in Melbourne ahead of the state byelection in Prahan next weekend in a bid to put pressure on the major parties to adopt more ambitious cost of living policies at the federal election.
Under the proposal, costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, the federal government would pay states and territories $8.1bn over the next four years to fully fund public transport costs and allow them to charge a flat rate of 50 cents per trip. An additional $250m would be given to assist the states and territories to adopt a “smart ticketing” system allowing travellers to use their phone, credit or debit cards.
Bandt said:
We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. This election will be the most important in a generation. By electing more Greens we can keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act on the cost-of-living crisis.
The 50c fares have been adopted in Queensland after trials began in August. The Crisafulli Liberal government agreed to keep the cut-price fares in place after being elected.
The Greens claim the policy, if adopted federally, could save households thousands of dollars a year. Bandt said electing a minority Labor government, supported by the Greens, could make the plan a reality.
Greens pressure got 50c fares in Queensland, and now we want it for everyone. The major parties can’t say it’s impossible, because it’s happening right now in Queensland.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Rafqa Touma to wrap up the week.
The former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has accused Anthony Albanese of failing to set red lines that could not be crossed as antisemitism attacks began ramping up in Australia. The former MP said the prime minister’s failure to act had “emboldened” people to hate. It comes as the investigation into the explosives found in a caravan in Dural along with a list of Jewish targets continues. More coming up.
While one in five women over the age of 15 has been sexually assaulted in their lifetime, almost 90% will not report to police. Of those who do make a report, only a quarter will see their perpetrator charged. These are the statistics behind our latest investigation, Broken Justice, looking at how the legal system fails rape victims. Coming ahead of a report by the law reform commission to be tabled in parliament next week, we also hear from a survivor who explains why the system seems stacked against women who seek justice.
Transparency advocates are urging federal politicians to support the Albanese government’s proposed electoral reform changes, warning public trust could be further eroded without it. With the federal parliament preparing to resume for a fortnight next week, the legislation is in doubt.
More coming up – as well as some details on the Greens’ new policy for national 50c public transport fares.