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Israel's ambassador defends new death penalty for Palestinians | ABC News Top Stories
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Israel's ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman has argued Australians might not understand the threat faced within Israel, while defending contentious new death penalty laws.
Israel's parliament has passed new laws making death by hanging the default punishment for Palestinian militants convicted of deadly attacks.
Critics have argued the laws are discriminatory, and Australia co-signed a letter with countries like Germany and the U-K urging Israel not to pass the laws.
Greens leader Larissa Waters says she supports the government's cut to the fuel excise, but says Australia needs to be less dependent on fossil fuels.
The federal government has introduced a national fuel security plan and will reduce the fuel excise by about 26 cents per litre from tomorrow.
Ms Waters says a more committed transition to alternative energy sources would protect Australia from the shock-waves of future global crises.
Small business advocates are welcoming a move by the Reserve Bank to scrap card surcharges from October.
Following 18-months of investigation and consultation, the reforms are expected to save consumers about $1.6 billion each year, and businesses about $200 million.The RBA also expects a reduction in the cap on interchange fees paid by businesses could see savings of $910 million each year.
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