Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commemorated the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 fatalities. He described the day as one of "pain and terror for Jewish people around the world." Albanese honored Australian Galit Carbone, who was among those killed in the attacks, and urged Hamas to return the remaining Israeli hostages. "We stand with their families, and with all those who have had to hold this two-year vigil, which must feel like an eternity," he stated.

In his remarks, Albanese reiterated support for a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. He emphasized the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, envisioning a future where Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully within internationally recognized borders.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley also marked the anniversary, calling the October 7 attacks "one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in modern history." Ley criticized the government's response, claiming that Albanese has not adequately supported Israel or the United States in their efforts to dismantle Hamas and foster conditions for peace. She called for more decisive action to combat antisemitism in Australia, urging the government to implement the recommendations from their own antisemitism envoy.

In other news, Australia's major telecommunications companies are set to face scrutiny from the government following recent network outages. Communications Minister Anika Wells will meet with the chief executives of Optus, TPG, and Telstra to address concerns stemming from a 13-hour outage on September 18, which disrupted hundreds of emergency calls and has been linked to three deaths. Wells plans to introduce legislation to create a "Triple Zero Custodian," a measure recommended in a report commissioned after a previous outage two years ago. The government has faced criticism for not acting on this recommendation sooner.

Additionally, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is promoting a new defense agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea. The Pukpuk Treaty commits both nations to assist each other in the event of an armed attack. Marles described the alliance as a "natural expression" of their relationship, emphasizing that Papua New Guinea has chosen Australia as its partner of choice. However, Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea indicated that there is a "high possibility" his country would remain neutral in any potential conflict involving Australia and China, stressing the importance of respecting national sovereignty.

As parliament reconvenes, the day is expected to be busy, with Senate estimates scheduled to begin, allowing senators to question officials about government spending.