What we learned, Tuesday 17 June
And with that, we are going to put the bog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big stories of the day:
More than half of Australians support or strongly support reducing tax concessions for super balances over $3m, according to YouGov polling commissioned by the Australia Institute.
A man was charged with murder last night after a woman’s body was found in Sydney’s west. Officers responded to the suburb of Werrington on Sunday at about 1.15pm after a passerby reported a body found in bushland in the area.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said the shooting at a restaurant in the Sydney suburb of Auburn yesterday was “vicious, disgusting behaviour from complete animals”.
Tabcorp has been fined $4m for sending more than 5,700 marketing messages to VIP customers last year in breach of Australia’s spam laws.
Anthony Albanese will continue with his program at the G7 summit in Canada tomorrow, despite Donald Trump leaving early tonight local time.
The federal opposition leader, Sussan Ley, said the Albanese government should have done more to secure a meeting with US President Donald Trump before his early exit from the G7.
Queensland police confirmed human remains found near the state’s Goodnight Scrub national park are those of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop. The remains were found during a search of the area on 6 June.
Former prime minister Paul Keating accused the Labor government of “intellectually ceding Australia to the United States” after the defence minister, Richard Marles, spoke about the growing might of China on the world stage and how the country may be drawn into a future conflict.
Former NSW premier Nick Greiner will chair a new committee in charge of the state Liberal branch after the panel installed after the council elections bungle was dumped.
Asked if Trump leaving the G7 before he had a chance to meet with the PM was “disappointing”, Wong says Australia was not the only country that had meetings cancelled.
Thank you for spending part of your day with us – we will be back tomorrow to do it all again.
Updated
Melbourne council admits overcharging motorists for parking fines over 12 years
Thousands of motorists will eligible for parking fine refunds after a council overcharged millions of dollars in penalties for more than a decade, AAP has reported.
Merri-bek council, covering Melbourne’s inner-northern suburbs, said it had overcharged motorists between $43 and $59 for 11 types of infringements between 1 July 2013 and 11 June 2025.
About 250,000 fines were charged incorrectly, with the council reaping in $12m over 12 years, the council confirmed.
The default penalty that councils charge for the 11 parking infringements is 0.2 penalty points, and they can only charge 0.5 penalty points provided they pass a resolution during a council meeting to increase that figure.
The council had been charging 0.5 penalty points despite it not passing a resolution.
Updated
Australian market slides as Middle East crisis deepens
Australia’s share market has lost ground as conflict in the Middle East continues to pressure oil prices, weighing on investor confidence, AAP has reported.
The S&P/ASX200 fell 13.2 points, or 0.15%, to 8,535.2, as the broader All Ordinaries lost 10.2 points, or 0.12%, to 8,764.8.
Oil prices gained ground during the session, after US President Donald Trump urged Iranians in Tehran to evacuate after five days of strikes between Israel and Iran.
Only two local sectors had made clear gains by the close, with IT stocks up 0.4% after a positive night for US tech stocks and a 0.4% push in real estate stocks as Goodman Group pushed 1.4% higher.
The Australian dollar was at 65.29 US cents, up from 65.06 US cents on Monday at 5pm.
Updated
Only 26% of Australian teachers intend to stay in profession until retirement
More than a third (39%) of teachers intend to leave the profession before retirement, new data shows. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) data, released on Tuesday, surveyed 40,000 people in the profession.
This year’s survey found just a quarter (26%) of the workforce intended to stay until retirement, while 35% were unsure of career plans and 39% intended to leave, a jump from just 22% in 2020. Of those, 14% intended to leave within five years.
The highest cited reason to leave was workload (75%) followed by work/life balance (69%) and stress/mental health/wellbeing (68%).
The AITSL CEO, Tim Bullard, said supporting professional development, particularly in strengthening middle leaders, was “essential in building a sustainable, high-performing education workforce”:
Whilst there has been some easing in workforce challenges being experienced by the profession, there is still so much more to do. Using data to inform future decisions, gives us a unique opportunity to target resources to where they will have most impact across a teacher’s career.”
Read more about the challenges facing teachers here:
Updated
Wong says government understands why Trump ‘felt it necessary’ to leave G7 early
Asked if Trump leaving the G7 before he had a chance to meet with the PM was “disappointing”, Wong says Australia was not the only country that had meetings cancelled.
I think we’ll understand given what’s happening in the Middle East and why President Trump felt it necessary to leave the G7 early. Obviously, we look forward to another meeting being scheduled between the president and the prime minister. Obviously they have spoken three times now by phone and have been very constructive conversations.
Updated
Wong says Iran-Israel conflict has ‘real risk of regional escalation’
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, is speaking on Afternoon Briefing about Iran – she says there is “a real risk of regional escalation”.
She says:
We … know that their nuclear capabilities – the potential nuclear capabilities are not only a risk to Israel but international peace and security. That is why have sanctions on Iran and why we have been part of supporting the International Atomic Energy Agency in its assessment of Iran …
In responding, are we risking a regional escalation which brings in risk to more civilians and more countries? The reason we are arguing for dialogue and de-escalation is because we are concerned about regional conflict, and we are not alone. This is the same position that world leaders across so many countries have articulated.
Updated
Nick Minchin and Pru Goward to lead Liberals’ 2025 campaign review
The former Liberal finance minister, Nick Minchin, and the NSW state minister, Pru Goward, will lead a review into the party’s disastrous 2025 federal election campaign.
The Liberal party federal executive appointed the pair and signed off on the terms of reference for the review at a meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.
The pair have been specifically asked to probe the party’s “historically low” primary vote, its performance in attracting “different voter segments” and the long-term threat posed by independents.
The review will also examine the performance of Liberal party campaign HQ, the various state divisions as well as consultants and contractors.
Updated
University of Melbourne expulsions may contravene human rights charter, law centre warns
The Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) has written to the vice chancellor of the University of Melbourne (UoM), Emma Johnston, requesting an “urgent meeting” over the expulsion of student protesters and warning the move may be incompatible with human rights norms.
Earlier this month, Johnston informed two students that they had been terminated and two that they were suspended after taking part in a pro-Palestine demonstration at an academic’s office last October, prompting concern from some academics and the Greens.
The letter, sent by the HRLC legal director, Sarah Schwartz, on Tuesday expressed “serious concerns” about the university’s decision.
As a public authority, the university has clear obligations under the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities to act compatibly with human rights, and to give due consideration to those rights in all decisions. The university’s commitment to rights and freedoms is recognised in its many policies. It should also comply with international human rights norms, given the university’s global standing and reach.
In our view, the response of the university in these cases is neither compatible with the Charter nor with international human rights norms. In addition to the severe harm to the individual students, this decision will have a chilling and stigmatising effect on protest, intellectual and student life on campus.”
Johnston told Guardian Australia the university respected the rights of individuals to protest, reiterating “this has not changed”.
Universities are places where free and open debate must take place, but the safety of our students and staff must also be protected as this is integral to enabling free and open debate.
Updated
Dfat says Indo-Pacific can ‘count on’ Australia as it pivots more aid to region
“We’re stepping up where others are stepping back,” the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) says.
The Australian Council for International Development (Acfid) this week revealed the impact of the Trump administration’s and Elon Musk’s department of government efficiency’s gutting of US foreign aid.
Australian non-government organisations and their partners took a $400m hit, and at least 20 offices have closed, with devastating flow-on effects on the delivery of health, education and climate change support.
Acfid wants the government to increase foreign aid spending from 0.65% of the budget to 1%.
A Dfat spokesperson said on Tuesday that the region could “count on” Australia as a partner, as it pivots more aid to the region. They said:
Recognising the impact of global aid cuts, we have reprioritised our development assistance to dedicate 75c of every Australian development dollar to support the Indo-Pacific next year. We’ve also reprioritised global funding this year to meet immediate needs in the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia as a result of global aid cuts.
We have also provided temporary additional flexibility to Australian NGOs to mitigate the impacts of some of the cuts on local partners in the Indo-Pacific.
The Greens support Acfid’s call to increase aid to at least 1%.
Deputy leader, Mehreen Faruqi, said Australia should show leadership, and bears “ultimate responsibility for the adequacy and stability of our aid program”. She said:
Trump’s callous aid freeze and funding cuts are devastating the world’s most vulnerable communities and the Albanese government is letting them get away with it.
Updated
Thanks for following along today, that’s all for me. Cait Kelly will be your guide through the afternoon’s headlines.
Nick Greiner to lead new Liberal committee as intervention extended
Former NSW premier Nick Greiner will chair a new committee in charge of the state Liberal branch after the panel installed after the council elections bungle was dumped. The Liberal party’s federal executive voted to create the new committee at a meeting in Canberra on Tuesday, extending a federal intervention into the branch for another nine months.
The federal executive was also considering who to appoint to lead two separate reviews after the party’s worst federal election result in its 80-year history. The party’s peak administrative body launched an intervention into the NSW branch in September after the local government election nominations fiasco, installing an administrative committee to run the division for 10 months.
Victorian Liberal elders Alan Stockdale and Richard Alston and former NSW state MP Peta Seaton were charged with reviewing the party’s constitution, overhauling the administrative machinery and helping to conduct the federal election campaign.
The term was due to expire on 30 June, creating an early test for the new Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, as the competing factions in her home state wrangled over the future of the division. The federal executive had the option to extend the committee’s term or end the intervention, handing control back to the NSW division.
A third option emerged in recent weeks, in which a federal-backed committee would remain in place but the current members would be replaced with NSW figures. The internal push to replace the committee members gathered momentum after the 80-year-old Stockdale said Liberal women were “sufficiently assertive” and perhaps male candidates needed a leg up.
Seaton will remain on the new committee.
Updated
More on death cap mushrooms: scientists warn some deadly fungi look like supermarket varieties
New South Wales and South Australia residents have been warned to stay away from wild mushrooms after a surge in the detection of highly poisonous death caps, including in Sydney.
Amanita phalloides, commonly known as death cap mushrooms, have been found growing in Sydney, the southern highlands, southern NSW and the Adelaide hills after high rainfall, health officials say. It is estimated that half a death cap mushroom can kill an adult, and the species has caused 90% of the world’s mushroom-related fatalities.
The chief scientist at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Prof Brett Summerell, said some poisonous varieties could look “just like a mushroom you’d buy from the supermarket”, making them extremely dangerous to forage.
Read more here:
Updated
Paul Keating says Marles’ comments on Australia’s role in possible US-China tussle a ‘dark moment’ in history
Former prime minister Paul Keating has accused the Labor government of “intellectually ceding Australia to the United States” after the defence minister, Richard Marles, spoke about the growing might of China on the world stage and how the country may be drawn into a future conflict. Marles said yesterday Australia’s military contingent was now “more relevant to [the] great power contest now than [it has] ever been before”.
Keating wrote in a long statement:
Yesterday’s statement by defence minister Richard Marles that Australia’s geography and continent would be crucial to any United States prosecution of a war against China will go down as a dark moment in Australia’s history.
A moment when an Australian Labor government intellectually ceded Australia to the United States as a platform for the US and, by implication, Australia, for military engagement against the Chinese state in response to a threat China is alleged to be making.
And ceding the continent to the United States devoid of an electoral authority – a month after an election where the government had the opportunity – but declined to make explicit, its strategic intentions and policies.
Keating went on to say Marles’ remarks amount to “nothing more than a careless betrayal of the country’s policy agency and independence in its ability to make decisions in its own national interest and not in the interest or interests of another country”.
Updated
NSW police say crime taskforce leading to arrests, guns off the streets after Auburn shooting
The head of NSW police’s taskforce into violent crime in Sydney said the body’s work has already resulted in arrests and gun seizures after the lunchtime shooting of three people at a kebab shop in the suburb of Auburn yesterday. Detective superintendent Jason Box addressed concerns about public safety at a press conference earlier:
Taskforce Falcon, with over 150 police, has been saturating places of interest and speaking to persons of interest. We’ve warned people about their safety. We’ve made arrests and recovered firearms from the street.
We will keep putting forward our concerns for every offender that we arrest that’s connected to these organised crime networks. You know, this conflict and this violence is something that we’re trying to suppress, and every time there is an incident and we arrest someone, we’re putting forward our concerns for these people not to be on the streets. And it’s quite obvious that they shouldn’t be.
Updated
Police identify remains of Pheobe Bishop, missing Queensland teen
Queensland police have confirmed human remains found near the state’s Good Night Scrub national park are those of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop. The remains were found during a search of the area on 6 June.
Police charged Bishop’s housemates with her murder earlier this month, with officials alleging they killed her before moving her body from the national park. James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, remain behind bars on individual charges of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse. Their next court appearance is set for 11 August.
Investigations are ongoing and police are still appealing for information about her movements and those of a grey Hyundai IX35 between 15 May and 18 May in the greater Gin Gin area.
Updated
Pacific faces ‘critical moment’ in fight for press freedom, media watchdog warns
The Pacific is facing a “critical moment” for press freedom, the region’s media watchdog has warned, as a number of senior journalists in a range of Pacific countries are facing costly lawsuits and criminal prosecution for alleged defamation. Robert Iroga, the chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum, said:
We have seen a few cases coming up … challenging the fundamentals of press freedom in the region.
Iroga said that Pacific countries – while all distinct and with separate laws governing media – often face similar cultural and economic challenges that affect press freedom. These include the fact that news outlets are often small with very limited budgets, which means defending lawsuits brought against them can often bankrupt an outlet.
Read more here:
Updated
NSW Council for Civil Liberties says decision shows ‘disregard for our democracy’
A key issue for the inquiry is when Minns knew that police suspected the caravan plot could be part of a criminal hoax.
Both the premier and the police minister, Yasmin Catley, have refused to appear and cannot be compelled to appear. Minns said on Tuesday he did not want his staff to give evidence either. Minns argued that if he attended all the inquiries he was requested to appear at he could not do his job. He said he was available during question time and at estimates twice a year.
Timothy Roberts, the president of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, said Minns had played into the hands of those who allegedly concocted the caravan plot and had used it to rush a repressive and fear-based legislative agenda. Roberts said:
This is just another example of premier Chris Minns’ disregard for our democracy. It should be of deep concern to all NSW residents that his government is refusing to answer questions from their elected representatives in parliament.
Human rights group criticises Minns for not speaking at inquiry in handling of Dural ‘fake terrorism plot’
The NSW Council for Civil Liberties has criticised the NSW premier, Chris Minns, for his decision not to appear at an upper house inquiry investigating the handling of information about the caravan “fake terrorism plot” at Dural earlier this year.
Three of Minns’ staff are being summoned to appear at the inquiry but the premier says he does not want them to give evidence.
A previous hearing heard that NSW police briefed the premier and the police minister “very early on” that the incident was likely a criminal hoax but the premier continued to use language including “mass casualty event” and “terrorism” in the media.
NSW parliament subsequently passed laws including the Places of Worship Act – which restricts protest “at or near places of worship” but will be challenged in the NSW supreme court later this week.
Minns told 2GB radio on Tuesday he did not conceal information but acknowledged a hoax was one possibility put forward by NSW police.
Burst water main leads to evacuations at Sydney’s Downing Centre court
Judges and magistrates had just taken the bench to hear 550 cases in Sydney’s Downing Centre courtrooms on Tuesday morning when the power suddenly went out throughout the building, AAP reports.
After a few moments of confusion, an alert asked everyone to leave the building due to a “street emergency”. Crowds of lawyers, judicial staff, accused criminals, and a gaggle of schoolkids on an excursion streamed down fire escape staircases onto Liverpool Street in the city centre.
Three people were trapped in the busy elevators inside the court complex. Fire and Rescue NSW confirmed crews had released one person while two others remain stuck in an elevator trapped between two floors.
In a statement, Ausgrid said a burst water main had flooded an underground substation in the city, causing the power outage. More than 400 customers in the CBD are still without power just before 1pm.
Woman identified after body found in bushland in Sydney’s west
A man has been charged with murdering a woman whose body was found in western Sydney by a passerby on the weekend. New South Wales police officers were called to Irwin Street in Werrington on Sunday after the body of 47-year-old Leanne Akrap was located in bushland. She was discovered lying next to clothing and rubbish.
A crime scene was established and an investigation commenced with the homicide squad. NSW Police did not comment on the alleged cause of death. A report was to be prepared for the coroner. Bryan Steven Johnson, 47, was arrested at a home on Powell Street in Hobartville on Monday evening and charged with murder, police said.
He was refused bail to appear before Penrith local court on Tuesday.
Read more:
Police looking at link between burnt-out cars and Sydney shooting
NSW detectives are investigating the links between three burnt-out cars and a shooting in Auburn yesterday. In a statement, NSW Police said about 1.15pm yesterday officers were called to South Parade after two men, with their faces covered, entered a kebab shop and fired eight shots.
They left in a black Audi Q7 bearing cloned numberplates. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated three people for gunshot wounds before all were taken to a hospital for further specialist treatment.
A 26-year-old man suffered wounds to his shoulder and arm, a 47-year-old woman was shot twice in the torso, and a 25-year-old man was shot in the face. The first two victims are said to be in a stable condition while the second man is said to be in a serious condition.
A crime scene was established, and three cars were subsequently found burnt out on Wigram Street in Harris Park, Hilltop Road in Merrylands and Gerald Street in Greystanes. Crime scenes were established at all three locations with officers attached Taskforce Falcon deployed to assist with the investigation.
Police are currently examining potential links between the three fires and the shooting at Auburn.
Ley says Albanese should have been 'more proactive' in seeking Trump meeting
The federal opposition leader, Sussan Ley, says the Albanese government should have done more to secure a meeting with US President Donald Trump before his early exit from the G7 in Canada today.
In a statement, she said Trump’s decision to leave a day before his meeting with Anthony Albanese is understandable but regrettable.
“Given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, this decision is understandable but to the detriment of Australia.
“This was an important opportunity for the prime minister to seek assurances on Aukus and protect Australia from tariffs.
“Given global volatility and the growing list of issues in our relationship with the United States, this underscores that the Albanese government should not have merely relied on meeting with the president on the sidelines of international summits.
“The prime minister should have been more proactive in seeking to strengthen this relationship – Australia’s most important – and we encourage him to change his approach to advance our national interest.”
Updated
Fate of NSW Liberal party to be decided at crunch meeting after federal takeover
The fate of the New South Wales Liberal party will be decided at a crunch meeting today, where the party’s federal executive will weigh up whether to end or extend its control over the division.
The federal Liberal party forcibly took over the NSW division in September last year after the NSW branch failed to lodge nominations for 140 candidates in 16 councils before the local government elections. A committee was appointed to replace its state executive for a period of 10 months.
On Tuesday, the Liberal party federal executive will decide the next steps for new Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s home state division in one of her first major challenges.
Read more here:
Chalmers refuses to comment on if Trump meeting cancellation was ‘rude’
In a quick doorstop after his Sky interview, Chalmers wouldn’t comment on whether Australia saw the Trump meeting cancellation as a snub. The treasurer said the Iran-Israel situation was a “a perilous moment for the Middle East – a perilous moment for the global economy as well.”
“It’s understandable and not especially surprising that President Trump has headed back to the White House,” he said.
Asked by a journalist if it was “rude” that Australia may have found out about Trump’s movements via social media posts from the president’s office, Chalmers said “I’m obviously not going to comment on that, I’ve made my view really clear.”
“This is not especially surprising. It’s understandable, given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. We have a number of opportunities to engage with American counterparts,” he said.
Updated
Chalmers downplays ‘understandble’ move from Trump to leave G7 early in face of Middle East crisis
It’s “understandable” and “not especially surprising” Donald Trump is leaving the G7 early in the face of a spiralling situation in the Middle East, says the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, downplaying the impact of Anthony Albanese’s meeting being cancelled.
Trump, as our Tom McIlroy has been bringing you from Canada, will leave the G7 meeting not long after arriving, and the scheduled meeting with Albanese is now not expected by the Australian side – one of likely several meetings the US president will skip.
Chalmers, in a Sky News interview just now, said Trump’s movements are “not especially surprising.”
“It’s understandable that President Trump [will leave] the meeting early. This was always a chance of happening, given what’s happening around the world and particularly in the Middle East,” the treasurer said.
“Prime Minister Albanese has had three conversations with President Trump in recent months, we’ll continue to engage in the usual way. But I don’t think it’s especially surprising. I do think it’s understandable, given events that are unfolding in a really dangerous part of the world.”
Chalmers said Albanese had “other good reasons” to travel to Canada, besides the now-unlikely Trump meeting, noting the PM’s meetings with other world leaders.
“It’s a really important opportunity to speak up for and stand up for Australia’s interests in the world. Obviously, we were looking forward to a meeting between the leaders of Australia and the United States. But again, I don’t think it’s especially surprising, given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, that President Trump wants to get back to the White House,” Chalmers said.
“This was always a prospect of this happening. It’s understandable. It’s not especially surprising, and there’ll be other opportunities to engage.”
Updated
Victoria announces new ‘post and boast’ laws to combat youth crime
Crooks who post videos of their crimes online will cop extra jail time as part of a crackdown on youth crime, AAP reports. The “post and boast” laws, announced by the Victorian government on Tuesday, will affect anyone who brags about their crimes on social media and messaging apps.
The crimes amendment (performance crime) bill will apply to anyone who publishes content about their involvement in serious and violent crimes such as affray, car thefts, home invasions, burglary and robbery and carjackings, the Victorian attorney general, Sonya Kilkenny, said:
It’s about sending the strongest and clearest message to these offenders now that … crime is not content, it is certainly not entertainment.
Third parties such as witnesses, bystanders and journalist won’t be captured by the laws.
Updated
Albanese to continue with plans at G7 despite Trump departure
Anthony Albanese will continue with his program at the G7 summit here in Canada tomorrow, despite Donald Trump leaving early tonight local time. The pair had been due to meet for the first time on the sidelines of the event in Kananaskis in the Rocky Mountains.
After the news broke, a government spokesperson said:
Given what is occurring in the Middle East this is understandable. As the prime minister said a short time ago, we are very concerned about the events in the Middle East and continue to urge all parties to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy.
After a dinner for G7 partner countries hosted by Canada’s governor general tonight, Albanese is due to meet with the leaders of the UK, Germany, the European Union and France at the summit.
Updated
Death cap mushrooms found in NSW
NSW Health said today death cap mushrooms have been found in parts of the state, including Sydney, the Southern Highlands and southern NSW. Officials issued warnings about the health risks of eating wild mushrooms, noting the consumption of death caps can be fatal.
Brett Summerell, chief scientist at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, said it can be difficult to identify safe species:
There is no easy or reliable way to identify if a wild mushroom is edible or poisonous, so we advise people against foraging for, and eating, wild mushrooms. Cooking poisonous mushrooms does not make them safe to eat.
You should only eat mushrooms you buy from a reputable grocery store, supermarket or produce market.
There were 23 hospitalisations for the toxic effect of ingested mushrooms in 2024, including two in children under the age of five. If you are worried that mushroom poisoning may have occurred, do not wait for symptoms to appear and call the Poison Information Centre on 13 11 26.
Tabcorp fined $4m for VIP customer spam
Tabcorp has been fined $4m for sending more than 5,700 marketing messages to VIP customers last year in breach of Australia’s spam laws.
The penalty is the outcome of the first investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority into a VIP gambling program.
Between 1 February and 1 May 2024, 2,598 SMS and WhatsApp messages were sent by Tabcorp to customers without an unsubscribe option and 3,148 SMS and WhatsApp messages did not contain adequate sender information.
Samantha Yorke, an ACMA member, said the breaches were “deeply concerning” given Tabcorp is an established provider that targets VIP customers. She said:
These programs often involve personalised messages offering incentives such as bonus bets, deposit matching, rebates and offers of tickets to sporting and other events.
“The gambling industry needs to understand that spam laws apply to all direct marketing – whether it’s generic campaigns or personalised messages,” Yorke said, noting VIPs were not necessarily “high-rollers” and could be under financial strain. “It is utterly unacceptable that TAB [Tabcorp] did not have adequate spam compliance systems in place.”
TAB has entered into a three-year, court-enforceable undertaking, which includes an independent review of its direct marketing systems, quarterly audits of its VIP direct marketing and training staff.
Senator David Pocock, an independent, said over the weekend the gambling sector had been “emboldened” by the Albanese government’s failure to act on the recommendations of a 2023 review into the industry by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy.
New court bid filed to stop extension of North West Shelf gas project in WA
A new court bid has been launched to stop Woodside Energy’s plan to extend the life of the North West Shelf gas export facility in northern Western Australia until 2070. The proposal, which last month won conditional approval from the federal government, has been challenged in the WA supreme court by Friends of Australian Rock Art.
In papers lodged with the court last week, the organisation argued the WA government did not properly follow state environment laws when it approved the development last year. Specifically, it alleged the state assessment failed to consider the climate impact of greenhouse gas emissions linked to the project.
Judith Hugo, a co-convener of Friends of Australian Rock Art, said:
It is clear that the state government is providing enthusiastic support for Woodside’s ongoing gas exports, but that does not detract from the obligation to follow the requirements of our legislation, and that means ensuring the impacts are properly assessed and managed to acceptable levels before any approvals are granted.
A Woodside spokesperson said the company was aware of the court action and had “confidence in the robustness of the state government’s comprehensive approval process”.
Tasmania premier calls Smith a ‘proud and brave Tasmanian’
The Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, is speaking about Const Keith Anthony Smith’s long career of service. Rockliff said:
Yesterday a proud and brave Tasmanian man, Constable Keith Smith, started his day by putting on his Tasmania Police uniform. A day that began like many others. A day where he started, like all others, to protect and serve us all.
Tragically, Constable Smith did not return home to put on the civvies. To be with the people that he loved.
Updated
Tasmania Police name officer killed in shooting yesterday
Tasmanian police have identified Const Keith Anthony Smith, 57, as the victim of a shooting yesterday.
Smith, a 25-year-veteran of the police service, was walking up to a home in the state’s north-west yesterday afternoon to serve a warrant when a person inside the house allegedly opened fire, killing him.
Tasmania’s police commissioner, Donna Adams, called Smith a dedicated officer and said his death will be mourned by the entire force:
Keith was a respected and committed officer, and his loss will be deeply felt across our policing family and the wider community. My heart goes out to Keith’s wife and family. We will be supporting them in every way we can during this incredibly difficult time.
The blue family will come together today, and over the next days and weeks, and will support the family and each other.
A 46-year-old man remains in hospital under police guard. No charges have been filed so far.
Updated
A two-bedroom Bondi Junction unit for $1,100 a week. Is ‘affordable housing’ in Australia really affordable?
A two-bedroom apartment in Bondi Junction that is part of an “affordable” housing scheme run by the NSW government has been listed at $1,100 a week to rent, prompting advocates to warn that programs designed to help low-income earners are increasingly out of reach.
Across the country, affordable housing programs are meant to offer rent below market rate for low-to-moderate income households that make too much for social housing but not enough for the private market.
The two-bedroom two-bathroom apartment in Bondi Junction is listed under the Affordable Housing Scheme by HomeGround Real Estate Sydney, with the guidelines set by the NSW government.
Read more:
Trump’s departure a blow to PM
Donald Trump’s press secretary has confirmed he will leave the G7 summit in Canada a day early, snubbing leaders including Anthony Albanese before planned talks tomorrow.
It is a blow for Albanese, who had expected to hold his first face-to-face talks with the president, including covering trade issues and the US review of Aukus.
The PM will still meet with leaders including the UK’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron at the Kananaskis summit site.
Updated
Trump leaving G7 tonight, before Albanese meeting
US president Donald Trump is leaving the G7 meeting early, and will depart Canada tonight. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, just wrote on X:
President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.
President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) June 16, 2025
Updated
Albanese says he’s always prepared before major meetings
The prime minister was asked how he’s prepped himself before his meeting with Trump tomorrow on the sidelines of the G7. Albanese said he’s always prepared:
I always prep seriously for meetings where I’m representing Australia. I’ve just been through a test. It’s called a federal election. …
I think that I have a great responsibility. I take that responsibility seriously and I look forward to tomorrow’s meeting, and not just with President Trump. It is important to say that tomorrow as well I’ll be meeting with the prime minister of Japan and I’ll be meeting with the European leaders.
Updated
PM says evacuations of Australians from Iran pose ‘challenges’, urges people to stay up-to-date with safety advice
Albanese said airspace over Iran remains closed amid the country’s ongoing conflict with Israel, making any evacuations of Australians difficult. He said:
That presents challenges. We want to make sure that people are looked after but they need to be looked after safely as well and so the last advice that I had was stay in place provisions were still the advice.
I would just encourage Australians either there or Australians who are concerned about family or friends to keep up-to-date with the Australian government’s advice.
Updated
Albanese says not ‘reasonable’ to expect complete resolution of tariff issues from Trump meeting
The prime minister said it would likely take some time to negotiate US tariffs on Australian goods during his meeting with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 in Canada.
Albanese was asked how he would describe expectations from the meeting, saying he doesn’t foresee “complete change” from one discussion:
That was [what] occurred last time with Australia and tariffs and I don’t think it would be reasonable to expect that you would have a complete change and a complete resolution of the issues, which are there.
When I first raised with President Trump the issue of tariffs, of course, he said he would give it great consideration.
Albanese added that Trump would “always be a welcome guest in Australia” when asked about any diplomatic visit.
Updated
Nato secretary-general praises Australia’s leadership on Ukraine
The secretary-general of Nato has praised Australia’s role responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, telling Anthony Albanese that Europe, the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are “interconnected” because of the conflict. Albanese met Mark Rutte, the former prime minister of the Netherlands, in Calgary as G7 leaders gather for tomorrow’s summit in the Rocky Mountains resort town Kananaskis.
Rutte warned China was acting with Russia, North Korea and Iran to prolong the bloody war. He said:
It is Russia with North Korea, with China, even Iran supporting the war effort, so this is all getting more and more interconnected. I want to thank you for your leadership on Ukraine. It’s really important that [Australia is] so far away and still so close and willing to really be helpful here.
Rutte said Nato and Australia could do more on defence industrial production and congratulated Albanese on his 3 May election win. Albanese called Russia’s actions immoral and illegal and restated a promise from Australia to commit troops to a peace keeping force, if a ceasefire can be achieved. The prime minister said:
I think the democratic world needs to defend our values, and we’re seeing that play out.
Updated
Triple J announces birthday edition for Hottest 100 Australian Songs vote
Triple J just announced a special, mid-year Hottest 100 of Australian Songs to celebrate the station’s 50th birthday. Voting starts today and runs for the next month. Triple J said:
It’s a big year for the triple j family, so what better way to toast our deep history than by doing our favourite thing: wringing our hands over trying to pick only 10 of our favourite songs released by Australian artists and bands. Nah, it’ll be a breeze, right? …
They’ve been the playlist to our lives, defined the sound of the nation and echoed across generations, and now we get to champion all the tracks that have lasted a lifetime (or more).
Updated
South Korean president tells Albanese he looks ‘much younger and good looking’ than he imagined from phone call
Prime minister Anthony Albanese met with South Korea’s newly elected president, Lee Jae-myung, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada. The pair had spoken on the phone in the past few days, after the presidential election and the resolution of South Korea’s constitutional crisis.
In a tiny hotel room in downtown Calgary in the past few minutes, Albanese showed the pair had clear rapport already. He received an unlikely compliment from the South Korean leader, who told him:
We had a phone call just a few days ago, and you look much younger and good looking than I imagined from your voice.
“You are very kind,” Albanese responded. “I think winning an election takes a few years off your appearance.”
The pair talked about Australia’s service during the Korean war, as well as the upcoming Asia-Pacific economic cooperation summit in South Korea in October. The South Korean president said he looked forward to visiting Australia again, saying he had been impressed by the country’s natural beauty the first time he travelled in the country.
Albanese will meet Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, next up today.
Updated
Chris Minns calls gangland attacks ‘vicious, disgusting behaviour’ after lunchtime shooting
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said the shooting at a restaurant in the Sydney suburb of Auburn yesterday was “vicious, disgusting behaviour from complete animals”.
Minns spoke to 2GB after the brazen attack, where three people were wounded at a kebab shop after a gunman allegedly opened fire inside. He said:
The disregard for human life for people who are innocent bystanders is appalling. Obviously I think it just churns your stomach to believe there are people out there who would pursue this kind of crime and have such disregard for members of the public.
Minns reiterated his pledge that NSW police would see those charged with such crimes “spend a long time, decades, in tiny prison cells”. Read more here:
Updated
Shadow finance minister calls on PM to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP so ‘it’s not a partisan issue’
James Paterson, the shadow finance minister, said the Coalition again called on the Albanese government to raise defence spending to 3% as a proportion of GDP, saying those calls are a task “we will happily take on over this term of parliament”. Paterson told RN Breakfast:
We are almost three years away from the next election, but before the next election, we’ll outline any savings that are necessary to make sure that is possible. … Frankly, it’s my hope that the Albanese government does that in this term of parliament so it is not a partisan issue by the next election.
RN host Sally Sara pressed Paterson on how the Coalition would pay for that proposal, which would amount to billions more in spending per year. Paterson said he couldn’t “outline exactly the dollars and cents”:
There will be three budgets and three mid-year economic and fiscal outlooks between now and the next election. And this government will make decisions on defence spending and many other things that will have implications for whatever provision we need to make for these things.
So it’s not possible to give you the exact numbers today, but I can give you a commitment that will be upfront and transparent and honest about it.
Updated
Pat Conroy says government will always put Australian safety first in global conflicts
Conroy was asked if there is a greater threat Australia could be drawn into a hypothetical conflict between the US and China after defence minister Richard Marles said yesterday Australia’s military contingent was “more relevant to [the] great power contest now than its ever been before”. Conroy told RN Breakfast:
I’m always careful about engaging in hypotheticals and our sovereignty remains paramount. The elected Australian government of the day will always decide whether we’ll be involved in a conflict or we will allow our continent to be used for operations, and that’s a really important principle.
But we live in a period of huge strategic uncertainty. That’s why we’re significantly increasing the defence budget. And we will continue to make decisions in the national interest to put the safety of Australians first.
Updated
Minister says Australia preparing to evacuate ‘fair number’ from Iran, but ‘it’s going to be challenging’
Pat Conroy, the minister for the defence industry, said the government is still preparing to evacuate a number of Australians from Iran following Israel’s ongoing strikes on the country. Conroy, speaking to RN Breakfast, said he expected a “fair number” of people would seek to board repatriation flights, but noted there were likely a lot of dual citizens who would stay in Iran. He said:
The air zones are closed at the moment, so planes can’t get in and out, but we’re preparing plans to evacuate Australians or assist in them getting on to commercial flights when those zones do open again.
It’s going to be challenging. There’ll be a lot of people probably wanting to exit. So we have to be careful, but we’re in contact with as many people as possible.
Conroy urged Australians in conflict zones to register with Dfat.
Updated
Man charged with murder after woman found dead in bushland in Sydney
A man was charged with murder last night after a woman’s body was found in Sydney’s west. Officers responded to the suburb of Werrington on Sunday around 1.15pm after a passer-by reported a body found in bushland in the area.
NSW Police established a crime scene and undertook extensive enquires into the 47-year-old woman’s death. A man, also 47, was arrested on Monday evening in Hobartville and charged on allegations of murder.
He was refused bail and will appear later today before Penrith local court.
Updated
South Australia says support for Santos takeover bid will be contingent on ‘the state’s best interest’
Santos, Australia’s second-largest gas producer, has early backing from its board for a $30bn takeover bid by a consortium led by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Shares in the oil and gas giant have soared on the news, but the deal may depend on winning over a state government, AAP reports.
Any transfer of licence holders under the South Australian Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act must be signed off by the state’s energy minister. SA’s premier, Peter Malinauskas, says the “state government’s priority at all times is to ensure that South Australian jobs remain in South Australia, and to maintain Santos’ headquarters in Adelaide”, adding:
Any judgments we make regarding this process will be made in the state’s best interests.
Abu Dhabi National Oil has expressed interest in acquiring Santos since July 2024, after negotiations of a potential merger between Santos and local competitor Woodside wound up in February 2024.
Updated
Victorian Greens push bill to enshrine housing as a human right
The Victorian Greens will introduce a bill to state parliament today to enshrine housing as a human right and have written to the premier, Jacinta Allan, calling on her support.
Under the bill, the right to housing would be added to the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. This would mean government departments, the police and the courts would all need to comply with and uphold the right to adequate housing. Any future laws and regulations would also have to comply with the charter.
The bill also specifies that housing should be structurally sound and located to appropriate public services and employment. The Greens’ housing spokesperson, Richmond MP Gabrielle de Vietri, said the bill would “fundamentally change the way we think about housing”. She said:
Today we are offering something all MPs across the political spectrum can agree on – that everyone has a right to a safe and affordable home. Anyone who votes down this bill will need a bloody good explanation for the more than one million Victorians in housing stress.
De Vietri also wrote to Allan urging Labor to support the bill, which will be introduced on Tuesday then second read on Wednesday. However, that is unlikely as the party generally doesn’t support non-government bills.
It follows a similar push made in federal parliament last year by independents David Pocock and Kylea Tink. It was supported by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Updated
Good morning, Nick Visser here to take you through the day’s news. Thanks to Martin Farrer for getting things started.
Renewables push in Queensland for cooperation between state and federal governments
The Queensland state government is being urged to do a deal with the commonwealth for national support to build more local renewable energy and storage projects.
The federal government has made renewable energy transformation agreements with every other state, meaning billions of dollars of Commonwealth funding become available for green power projects like batteries and solar.
Stephanie Gray, a campaigner with the Queensland Conservation Council, said regional communities deserve their fair share of federal funding.
We’re concerned recent moves by the Queensland government indicate they’re opposed to new clean energy investment, which if true, is bad news for regional economies, power bills and climate action.
The Queensland government has recently cancelled a windfarm they previously approved and moved to implement controversial legislation changes that will make it very challenging to get a large-scale renewable project approved.
Gray said Queensland’s coal-fired power stations had broken down “a staggering 78 times over the last summer period”.
As our ageing coal fleet heads towards retirement, it’s only practical to make sure that new renewable energy supply is coming online to keep the lights on, manage power bills and reduce emissions in our most polluting sector …
We simply cannot depend on our coal clunkers any more, and their unreliability is driving up wholesale power prices.
Investigation launched after NSW plane crash
An investigation has been launched after a pilot died when his recreational aircraft crashed in NSW’s central west yesterday afternoon.
Officers were called to Meadowview Road near Tottenham, about 140km north-west of Parkes, at around 3.40pm when the aircraft was found crashed in a paddock.
The 48-year-old pilot, a local man, died in the crash. A report will be prepared for the coroner while an investigation into the crash is being conducted by Recreational Aircraft Australia.
Poll support for super tax reforms
More than half of Australians support or strongly support reducing tax concessions for super balances over $3m, according to YouGov polling commissioned by the Australia Institute.
The polling found 52% backed the idea, while 26% of people oppose or strongly oppose the changes and 22% are undecided.
YouGov surveyed 1,535 voters finding those between 25 and 34 years and 35 and 49 years supported the proposed tax change the most. Those over 50 supported it the least.
The most supportive also happened to be those who voted independent, followed by Labor and Greens voters.
The Australia Institute’s executive director, Richard Denniss, said it should come “as no surprise” that many Australians don’t “share the hysteria” about the proposed policy change.
“Given that most Australians have less than $200,000 in super, it should come as no surprise that the vast majority of ordinary Australians don’t share the hysteria about this small change expressed by some very vocal critics ...”
“One of the most interesting results is that independent voters, the voters who have cost the Liberal party so many of their once safest seats, are the most supportive of Labor’s proposed changes.”
Trump says G7 ‘wrong’ to kick out Russia and advocates for Chinese membership
As Albanese lines up meetings, the main G7 action is in full swing. Donald Trump has met the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, and other world leaders here in Canada overnight.
Trump said the G7 was wrong to kick out Russia, and that he would like the group of economic powers to be restored to the G8.
Trump and Carney talked about tariffs and international trade, similar themes to what is expected when the US president sits down with Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.
“I’m a tariff person. I’ve always been a tariff person,” Trump said in his press conference. “I think Mark has a more complex idea, but also very good. We’re going to take a look at both.”
Trump also advocated for China to join the grouping.
Albanese is having private meetings this morning, Canadian time, ahead of his formal talks with the leaders of Nato and South Korea.
Key event
What’s on Albanese’s agenda at the G7 summit?
Anthony Albanese is in Calgary again today, meeting world leaders ahead of tomorrow’s G7 summit in nearly Ananaskis.
On the agenda for the PM today are bilateral talks with South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, and Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte. Both talks are expected to focus on defence and security, including the possibility of South Korea building new frigates for the Australian Defence Force.
In talks with Rutte, Albanese is expected to discuss Australia’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Later in the day, Albanese is due to attend a welcome reception for G7 outreach leaders hosted by Alberta’s premier, Danielle Smith, ahead of a welcome dinner hosted by the governor general of Canada, Mary Simon.
All eyes are on Albanese’s meeting with Donald Trump on Tuesday local time (Wednesday here), the first time the two leaders will meet face to face.
Updated
As mentioned earlier, our chief political correspondent, Tom McIlroy, is in Canada and he has sent an analysis of how the prime minister might be trying to approach this week’s summit.
Tom argues that Anthony Albanese will be treading a delicate path in Alberta as he tries to pivot gently towards building more alliances while trying to avoid controversy with Donald Trump. Read his piece here:
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser to guide you through what may well be another very busy news day.
Our chief political correspondent, Tom McIlroy, is in Canada at the G7 summit in Canada, where Anthony Albanese is lining up meetings with leaders and trying to navigate the currents of geopolitical crisis. We’ll have blow-by-blow coverage and analysis for you here soon.
On the domestic political front it’s a big day with the fate of the New South Wales Liberal party to be decided. The party’s federal executive will weigh up whether to end or extend its control over the division at a crunch meeting. The Victorian Liberals may also cast off the party elders conducting a review of that state divison. We’ll have the news as it happens.
A poll by YouGov has found that more than half of voters support or strongly support reducing tax concessions for super balances over $3m. The survey, commissioned by the Australia Institute, found 26% of people oppose or strongly oppose the changes and 22% are undecided. More coming up.
