This week in Australian politics, significant developments unfolded in Parliament House. Andrew Hastie, the shadow minister for home affairs, made headlines with his bold statements and actions. The Liberal frontbencher from Western Australia has expressed a desire to eventually lead the party. After the recent election, he indicated a wish to transition from defense to an economic portfolio, a move interpreted as an effort to broaden his experience for a future leadership bid.

New Liberal leader Sussan Ley responded to Hastie's ambitions by assigning him a senior role that avoided the appearance of a demotion. However, Hastie's actions this week suggested he is not content to remain in the background. He began the week by promoting a nostalgic view of manufacturing in a social media video, which drew criticism from some Liberal colleagues. In response, he labeled them "nameless cowards" and "muppets," a comment that sparked further discussion.

By midweek, Hastie was again in the spotlight, posting images that evoked mid-century nostalgia while claiming that immigration was making Australians feel like "strangers" in their own country. He attributed the housing crisis to migration and suggested that the declining birth rate in Australia was linked to difficulties in home ownership. Hastie warned that the Liberal Party could "die" if it did not take decisive action. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke condemned Hastie's remarks, arguing that migration numbers had decreased in the past year and accusing the Liberals of being out of touch.

Former Liberal cabinet minister Arthur Sinodinos also weighed in, stating that the Coalition must develop policies that resonate with mainstream voters to regain power. In an interview, Hastie insisted, "Look, I support Sussan. Anyone who's speculating otherwise is being mischievous. As I said, I'm still on the team, I'm a team player, I'm just being a little bolder in some of the policy positions that I think we should adopt."

In another significant political development, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office later this month. This meeting comes after a series of interactions that have drawn attention, including a brief encounter at a cocktail function. The timing is notable as the U.S. is expected to complete its review of the AUKUS security pact in October. Albanese is likely to approach the meeting with caution, especially following recent diplomatic challenges with Pacific leaders.

Albanese's week also included a historic moment as he joined leaders from Great Britain, France, and Canada in officially recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state. The Coalition has expressed strong opposition to this recognition, with Ley emphasizing to U.S. politicians that they could face repercussions from the Trump administration.

French President Emmanuel Macron played a key role in this renewed push for Palestinian recognition. During the UN meetings, he demonstrated his commitment to global diplomacy by directly contacting Trump to discuss the situation in Gaza, highlighting the complexities of achieving peace in the region.

Back in New York, Albanese met with Macron to discuss various issues, including Turkey's bid to host the next COP climate summit. The Australian government is actively working to persuade Turkey to withdraw its bid, as consensus is required to determine the host nation. If no agreement is reached, the event will default to Bonn, Germany.

In local politics, the race for the Sydney seat of Bradfield concluded when Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian dropped her court challenge regarding the election results. Independent Nicolette Boele won the seat by a narrow margin of 26 votes in May. Kapterian's decision means she will not join the federal parliamentary Liberal Party, missing out on a position Ley had reserved for her.