Australian news and politics live: Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie calls for Grace Tame to be prosecuted

Australia’s next ambassador to the United States, Greg Moriarty, is making his final appearance before Parliament as Defence Secretary before he replaces Kevin Rudd in Washington in April.

During an opening statement to a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday, the Secretary has again warned that the Chinese navy will continue to make its presence felt in the region.

“We have seen a greater People’s Liberation Army Navy … presence than in recent years. We expect this to continue,” Mr Moriarty told Parliament.

“We have consistently raised the importance of China providing greater strategic transparency and reassurance about its activities in our region.”

Angus Taylor’s supporters insist Liberal frontbench resignations will happen today, despite the high-profile visit of Israel’s President, who is understood to be meeting with Opposition Leader Sussan in Canberra on Wednesday afternoon.

Shadow Ministers are soon expected to begin stepping aside to pave the way for a leadership spill against Ms Ley, which is expected to occur at a party room meeting on Friday.

“This is blood sport, we can’t delay it any longer, even if President Herzog is here. He can still meet with Sussan today because she’ll still be leader,” one conservative frontbench Liberal MP told The Nightly.

Another key supporter of Mr Taylor said he expected Ms Ley would be offered a frontbench spot when her leadership is over.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is travelling to Canberra with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

ACT Police told the ABC that a “significant police presence” would be ready as officials anticipated more protests.

This was already evident outside the Parliament on Wednesday morning, with security barriers erected on the lawns where protests are held and mini-buses full of police seen arriving.

Details around Mr Herzog’s movements have not been made public.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Chabad Bondi on Tuesday night with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The two were seen walking in as Jewish Australians and members travelling with the Isreali President welcomed the duo.

The Australian Jewish Association published the video on social media, showing Mr Albanese and Mr Herzog being escorted by Rabbi Yehoram Ulman.

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has hit out, claiming she has become a deflection.

Acknowledging a social media post from One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson, who called for ASIO and police to investigate who Tame is “hanging out with”, the Order of Australia recipient said she hangs out with a bunch of neurospicy (neurodivergent) sexy queers and culty cyclists”.

“Politicians and the press can deflect onto me all they like, but I’m not the story,” Ms Tame said in a social media post.

“The story is that Israel stands accused by the International Criminal Court of committing genocide in Gaza, and so far — after over two years of innocent men, women and children being slaughtered — the only parties who’ve faced punishment are the victims themselves and critics of the state.

“Yesterday at a peaceful protest against the arrival of Israeli President Isaac Herzog on our shores, nonviolent attendees acting well within their rights were met with unprovoked police brutality.

“This should terrify us all. Democracy is eroding before our very eyes.”

Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said no Australian should be on the streets using the language Grace Tame used at a protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit.

The former Australian of the Year led chants of “from Gadigal to Gaza, globalise the intifada” in Sydney on Monday night.

“Before we start a national pile on, remember that every single child in our country is safer today because of her willingness to talk about traumatic incidents of sexual abuse events that occurred in her childhood,” Ms O’Neil told Sunrise on Wednesday.

“No Australian today should be on our streets using words like globalise the intifada.

“We need to put ourselves in the shoes of Jewish Australians and understand that those words are heard by this community as saying that violence against Jews should be encouraged.”

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has called for former Australian of the Year Grace Tame to be prosecuted after she led chants of “globalise the intifada” at anti-Herzog protests in Sydney.

During her calls, Senator McKenzie incorrectly claimed Ms Tame had received an Order of Australia, potentially confusing this with being awarded Australian of the Year.

“Ms Tame was awarded her Order of Australia as a result of bravely telling her personal story of sexual abuse. That hasn’t changed, but the fact remains removing a little badge from her lapel actually won’t change the fact that she is a leader, particularly with young women, and has a lot of influence,” Senator McKenzie told Sunrise.

The Nationals senator said Ms Tame “should be prosecuted” as she is “inciting violence and hate towards our Jewish community”.

“President Herzog’s visit should be a time of healing in the wake of the Bondi attack, and what we’ve seen on our streets, unfortunately, is reinforcing that global perspective that our country is not safe for Jewish people, which is absolutely not the truth.”