Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus was scheduled to speak at The Shabtai Shavit World Summit on Counter-Terrorism in Israel, but the event was cancelled due to missile attacks by Iran. The summit was organised by the International Institute for Counter Terrorism and was set to include a diverse group of guests, including former prime minister Scott Morrison and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. The cancellation came after Iran launched missile attacks on Israel in retaliation to the country’s invasion of Lebanon. The event was intended to mark the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attacks.
In Sydney, the long-awaited demolition of the derelict Balmain Leagues Club began after more than a decade of delays. Chinese developer Heworth Holdings Group plans to build a $285 million development on the site, featuring three towers with 227 apartments, 59 of which are designated as affordable housing. Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne criticized the developer for delays in the project but the firm’s Head of Property, Christopher Walsh, defended their actions and stated that they have prioritized bringing forward the demolition in response to the mayor’s call for action.
The Balmain Leagues Club site has been a visual metaphor for years of planning dysfunction and decay in Sydney, with multiple failed development plans and a history of neglect. The site’s future remains uncertain as Heworth Holdings Group awaits approval for their revised plans, as well as the outcome of a compensation claim against the state government for a previous plan to turn the site into a dirt dump for the Western Harbour Tunnel project. Despite concerns from locals about the impact of the proposed towers on the visual amenity of Victoria Road, the demolition of the Balmain Leagues Club has been welcomed as a sign of progress.
The summit in Israel was set to feature a range of speakers, including important Israeli political figures and Australian guests like former prime minister Scott Morrison. The event was intended to have discussions on the October 7 attacks and foster ties between Australia, Israel, and the United Kingdom. The invitation extended to One Nation leader Pauline Hanson sparked controversy and gave the delegation a controversial image. However, the cancellation of the summit due to missile attacks from Iran ultimately prevented the event from taking place.
The cancellation of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus’ trip to Israel came after Iran’s missile attacks on the country in retaliation for its invasion of Lebanon. Dreyfus was meant to be a keynote speaker at The Shabtai Shavit World Summit on Counter-Terrorism but decided to stay home following the escalating tensions. The summit was organised by the International Institute for Counter Terrorism and had a diverse guest list, including former prime minister Scott Morrison and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. The cancellation of the summit marked a setback in efforts to mark the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attacks.
