The Briefing Christchurch terrorist seeks retrial + Why Isaac Herzog is in Australia
Feb 8, 2026
David Shoebridge, Greens senator and justice and foreign affairs spokesperson, discusses the controversy around President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia. He talks about why the invitation was political, concerns about normalising relations amid alleged war crimes, planned nationwide protests, and tensions between security measures and civil liberties.
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Christchurch Shooter Seeks To Vacate Plea
- Brenton Tarrant has applied to vacate his guilty plea, claiming duress due to his prison conditions and seeking a retrial.
- The case raises tensions for victims' families concerned about retraumatization and the risk of giving Tarrant a platform.
Court Limits Aim To Avoid Platforming Extremism
- Courts have suppressed the identities of Tarrant's lawyers and limited information to avoid giving him a platform for racist ideology.
- Judges intend to be cautious about what public information flows from the hearings given the case's emotional charge.
Visit Framed As Solidarity Yet Deeply Divisive
- Isaac Herzog's state visit was framed as a gesture of solidarity after the Bondi terror attack but immediately became politically charged.
- The invitation revealed tensions between showing support for Jewish Australians and concerns about Israel's actions in Gaza.