Australia news LIVE: Anti-Herzog protests turn violent; Sussan Ley’s leadership expected to be challenged within days

Wentworth MP Allegra Spender says the images and videos coming out of last night’s pro-Palestine protest in Sydney would have “disturbed” a lot of Australians.

“I think a lot of Australians, Bondi included, will be really disturbed by these images,” she told Today this morning.

Protesters gathered in major cities around the country in opposition to Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia.

The invitation was extended to Herzog after a terrorist attack on a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach in December that killed 15 people. Bondi falls within Spender’s electorate.

“I spent a lot of time in Bondi the last few weeks, and what people keep on saying to me is it is the community there coming together, looking out for each other … that’s the best of this country, and we’ve got to hold on to that,” Spender said.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth has dodged a question about whether the government could have foreseen the eruption of violence at an anti-Herzog protest last night in Sydney.

Asked by Today show host Karl Stefanovic if the government knew there would be violence given the environment of heightened tension caused by Herzog’s visit, Rishworth said, “We need to be able in this country to disagree respectfully, and everyone’s got to look at their own selves in this.

“People do have a right to protest. It’s a really important right, but it must be done respectfully and it must be done peacefully.”

Her comments follow violent clashes between police and protesters at a pro-Palestine demonstration in Sydney’s CBD last night.

Protesters gathered in opposition to Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia.

The Liberal Party room is set to meet this morning, as Angus Taylor gears up to quit the Coalition frontbench as soon as tomorrow in order to challenge Sussan Ley for the Liberal leadership.

Expectations of a spill were heightened yesterday when Senator Jane Hume, who may run as Taylor’s deputy, was scathing of the current leadership and warned worsening polling results would lead to the Liberal Party being “wiped out” if an election were held.

Backers of Taylor, who lost a leadership ballot to Ley last May, believe he already has the support of a majority of the 51 Liberal MPs, who have been rattled by historically low polling and the growth of One Nation’s support.

Reports say Taylor will likely launch his challenge to oust Ley on Friday.

Pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in major cities around the country last night to protest Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia, as a demonstration in Sydney ended in violent clashes between police and protesters.

Palestine Action Group’s eleventh-hour Supreme Court challenge to sweeping police powers enacted for Herzog’s visit failed yesterday afternoon, allowing police extra power to shut down parts of the Sydney CBD and eastern suburbs, move protesters on and limit the number of people gathered.

Punches were thrown and capsicum spray was used on dozens of demonstrators, before 27 people were arrested.

In a late-night press conference, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said he was “disappointed” in protest organisers for “inciting” the crowd to break the law by marching in the CBD, while defending the police response as “justified”.

More than 5000 people also gathered in Melbourne’s CBD to protest Herzog’s visit.

Good morning and welcome to our national news live blog for Tuesday, February 10. My name is Emily Kaine, and I’ll be helming your coverage this morning. Here’s what is making news today.

• Pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in major cities around the country last night to protest Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia. The protest in Sydney, led by Palestine Action Group, turned violent as police clashed with protesters. Punches were thrown and capsicum spray was used on dozens of demonstrators, before 27 people were arrested.
• The Liberal Party room is set to meet this morning, as Angus Taylor gears up to quit the Coalition frontbench as soon as tomorrow in order to challenge Sussan Ley for the Liberal leadership. Reports say Taylor will likely launch his challenge to oust Ley on Friday.
• Communications Minister Anika Wells has written to controversial video game giant Roblox seeking an urgent meeting following reports that children on the popular platform have been exposed to sexually explicit and suicide-related material.
• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting a Labour rebellion over his leadership after the head of the party’s Scottish wing called on him to stand down, sharply escalating the pressure for a new leader and ministry. The pressure on Starmer has intensified in part because of questions over his judgement in appointing Peter Mandelson, a close associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the UK ambassador to the US.

Follow along as we bring you rolling news updates throughout the day.