Greens senator Jordon Steele-Jhohn has accused factions within the party of weaponising rumours about him for political reasons, as he denied taking leave from the party despite leader David Shoebridge claiming Steele-Jhohn would not be in parliament while the investigation is ongoing. The nature of the investigation has not been publicly detailed.
In France, protests that began on Saturday drew 550,000 people to rallies about cost of living and school standards. The demonstrations descended into violence, with masked rioters setting fire to cars and buildings, including the 143-year-old town hall in the city of Limoges, which was largely destroyed. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence in an emergency address to the nation on Sunday night. The violence has sparked a political row over whether the national government did enough to prevent the destruction.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson claimed on social media that the protests were a consequence of "mass migration" which is "tearing apart Europe" and warned similar riots would become common in Australia if the government did not stop "importing people who reject our democracy". However, there is no evidence to suggest the protests were driven by migrants. The movement began last month when French teachers and students spoke out against underfunded public education, poor infrastructure, staff shortages and unsanitary classroom conditions.
Separately, concerns are growing within the Reserve Bank that the fallout from the war against Iran means inflation will remain elevated and force it to push interest rates higher. Senior sources within the bank told this masthead that oil prices were showing no sign of falling as the war in the Middle East broadens.
Overseas, there is a little over a week remaining until election day in Israel. The latest polls show the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs evenly matched. US President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu in a glowing social media post and urged Israelis to support him when they vote on October 27.