What we learned: Monday 11 May
We will wrap up the live blog here on budget day eve. This is what made the news:
Anthony Albanese said the Farrer byelection was “devastating” for Angus Taylor and his Liberal party, criticising the Coalition for adopting One Nation “lite” policies, and preferencing their candidate.
Barnaby Joyce says One Nation is on the up and up, and will “go for government” but will not go into coalition with the Liberal and National parties.
Ted O’Brien, the shadow foreign minister and former deputy leader under Sussan Ley, said the Liberal party will learn the lessons of Saturday’s byelection loss – but that won’t involve looking towards a coalition with One Nation.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, says Labor will be under pressure in some seats from One Nation at the March 2027 state election, after the party’s historic victory in the federal byelection in Farrer.
LNP MP Colin Boyce now says he is “absolutely committed to the National party” despite telling Guardian Australia over the weekend that he was reconsidering his political future after the Farrer byelection result.
Tim Wilson is trying to pin the government down on breaking its promises not to touch negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts, accusing Anthony Albanese of “deceit and betrayal” of voters.
Tomorrow night’s federal budget will include $500m in new funding for faster approvals for housing, energy and critical minerals projects, part of changes to national environment laws.
The Greens leader, Larissa Waters, says the “time for tinkering is long gone” as she demands ambitious reform to fix the housing crisis in Tuesday’s budget.
The body believed to be that of alleged Lake Cargelligo triple murder Julian Ingram has been found next to a Ford Ranger 100km north of the NSW town.
Five Australians and one New Zealander will quarantine for at least three weeks in Perth when they arrive back in Australia from a cruise ship struck with Hantavirus infections.
Top Australian law firm, MinterEllison, has cut nearly a third of its graduate positions, citing artificial intelligence.
The local share market has slipped after the US rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal to end the Middle East war.
Rising fuel prices have hit Australia Post, with the service setting a 19.5% surcharge for the month of June.
We’ll be back again tomorrow with all the news from the Albanese government’s latest budget.
Updated
Youth homelessness funding boost in tomorrow’s budget
Tuesday’s budget will include more than $59m in new funding to help young Australians access securing housing.
The funding will go to community housing providers to help house young people on Youth Allowance or Abstudy, payments which are less than Jobseeker, the age pension and disability support pension.
As a result, young people are now one of the groups most at risk of homelessness in Australia, with 19- to 24-year-olds experiencing the highest homelessness rate of any age cohort.
The social services minister, Tanya Plibersek, said the funding would help as many as 4,000 people per year by 2028-29.
“When a young person has a safe place to live, everything else becomes more possible – education, health, and stable employment,” she said.
This investment is about unlocking safe and secure housing for vulnerable young Australians so they have the solid foundation they need to build strong, secure and independent lives.
Updated
Police address media after finding body in search for Julian Ingram
Assistant police commissioner Andrew Holland is addressing media in Dubbo.
He said a male body in a “very decomposed state” was found about 100km north-west of Lake Cargelligo, next to a white Ford Ranger utility that was last seen being driven by Julian Ingram after the alleged triple murder of his pregnant former partner and two others.
Holland said there was a firearm next to the body, which police believe is Ingram’s, but that the body has yet to be formally identified.
He said:
The families have been advised by police that it could be Mr Ingram.
Obviously, as I said before, it’s yet to be formally identified, but we believe with the identification at the scene that we’ve located, the clothing that the deceased is wearing, I would lead us to believe that it is him.
The body was found at the Round Hill nature reserve, between Mount Hope and Lake Cargelligo. The body was found by the National Parks and Wildlife Service who were carrying out feral animal eradication in the area when they found the abandoned vehicle, Holland said.
Ingram’s driver licence was found in the vehicle, he said, and clothing on the body also matched that worn by Ingram. Holland said the news would be a relief for not only the investigators, but the family of the victims and the people of Lake Cargelligo.
Updated
AEC likely to declare Farrer in late May
The Australian Electoral Commission has said that despite the Farrer byelection result not being in doubt, the official result will not be declared by the AEC until final counting is finished, most likely in the last week of May.
The electoral commissioner, Jeff Pope, said there are still a large number of postal votes remaining, and a broad spread of first preference votes in the election.
He said:
We’ve calculated the current figures against the various tests for official poll declarations, and it looks like a full distribution of preferences will have to occur prior to the declaration.
This is not uncommon – it was the case for more than half of all 150 seats in the 2025 federal election and for the Fadden byelection in 2023.
Under the law we must wait until 22 May for final postal votes to be received and all admitted votes are required to be in our possession prior to doing the full distribution of preferences.
We’re acutely aware that the successful candidate will want to take their seat as soon as they can and once that postal vote deadline has passed, we’ll move as quickly as it is possible to do so.
It means One Nation’s David Farley is unlikely to take his seat in parliament until after the winter break.
Updated
Body found near Lake Cargelligo understood to be alleged killer Julian Ingram
A body found next to an abandoned ute 50km north-west of Lake Cargelligo is believed to be a gunman suspected of killing his pregnant former partner in remote New South Wales.
A large-scale manhunt for 37-year-old Julian Ingram has been under way since January when he allegedly shot Sophie Quinn, her new boyfriend and her aunt in Lake Cargelligo, about 450km west of Sydney.
Ingram was last seen driving a Ford Ranger ute with council signage from the town on 22 January.
The police said in a statement a short time ago that a man’s body, understood to be Ingram, was discovered beside an abandoned ute 50km north-west of Lake Cargelligo.
Assistant police commissioner Andrew Holland will address the media at 5.30pm.
Updated
Nationals leader says he doesn’t develop policies based on other parties
Nationals leader Matt Canavan said he hasn’t developed his political positions on what other parties are doing, in response to whether the conservative parties could be seen as One Nation-lite following the Farrer by-election.
He told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that he disagrees with One Nation, for example on increasing taxes on the resources sector, and pointed to previous comments from Pauline Hanson about muslims as a point he disagreed with.
I have also said many times I do not want to divide this country into different groups and tribes as Pauline has sought to do from time to time, why I don’t join One Nation, I joined the Liberal and National Party because I want to reunite this country, I think there are great Australians from all walks of life.
He said Hanson’s comments were “a terrible thing to say about a group of people”
Pauline has said those things, her own party disagreed with her and Barnaby Joyce [has] disagreed, Barnaby has been gagged; he can’t tell the truth now because he has a boss and Pauline tells them what to do.
He said Joyce “looks sad” because he doesn’t like working for a boss.
When told that Joyce looked happy after the by-election, Canavan said “that’s for the cameras”.
Royal Australasian College of Physicians under investigation by charities regulator
One of Australia’s oldest medical colleges is being investigated by the charities regulator, after months of infighting that has been described as “a royal mess” and “absolute shitshow” by frustrated doctors.
Months of turmoil at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians culminated in police being called to an extraordinary general meeting in Sydney on 22 April.
The RACP was last week notified that the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission intended to investigate it, according to internal RACP correspondence seen by Guardian Australia.
An email to RACP staff on Thursday said “the scope of this investigation is not yet known”, but added:
We are now preserving all material that may be relevant to the investigation.
Staff were directed to preserve material relating to compliance with the ACNC’s governance standards, as well as any documents relating to the 22 April meeting to which police were called. It added:
Failure to comply with this directive may expose the college to adverse consequences, including fines and other court orders.
A spokesperson for the charities regulator said:
By law the ACNC cannot speak publicly about the circumstances of any charity, apart from referring to information published on the Charity Register, or unless an exception applies in limited circumstances.
The RACP was contacted for comment.
Top law firm MinterEllison cuts one in three graduate jobs due to AI
A top Australian law firm has cut nearly a third of its graduate positions, citing artificial intelligence.
MinterEllison, one of the biggest firms in the country, has hired just 72 graduates for 2025-26, from 104 the previous year. The Australian Financial Review first reported the cuts today.
The firm’s chief people officer, Rachel Banks, said the cuts reflected AI-generated efficiency, not a fall in client demand for legal services, which was still strong. She said:
Responsible use of AI is improving efficiency in some of the more routine work graduates traditionally start on, while demand continues to shift towards complex matters
Banks told Guardian Australia demand and technology would keep changing MinterEllison’s graduate hiring but the firm would keep an “absolute” commitment to developing new lawyers.
Investing in our people is a high priority at MinterEllison. That is not changing. What AI does change is how people learn, how they’re supported, and where they add the most value. We’re focused on making sure every graduate we bring in gets the best possible foundation: strong legal training, real client exposure, and the skills to thrive in an AI-enabled environment.
We’ll continue to adjust intake as client demand and technology evolve, but our long-term commitment to developing the next generation of outstanding lawyers is absolute.
Of five top Australian firms cutting graduate hiring this year, MinterEllison was the only one to have publicly linked the decision to AI.
Updated
O’Neil ‘terrified’ at prospect of Coalition relying on One Nation support to form government
Turning to the Farrer byelection, the housing minister, Clare O’Neil, tells ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that she is “absolutely horrified” that a political space for One Nation “has been opened up by the total chaos and dysfunction in the Liberal and National party”.
The fact we have voters saying One Nation is a real option for them, I think that is incredibly sad and Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan have to stand up and work out how they can get their act together so this problem does not continue.
She said people are feeling pessimism about what mainstream politics can offer them, and it “terrifies” her that the Farrer numbers show it will not be possible for a future Liberal and National government without One Nation.
Updated
Housing minister flags ‘serious intergenerational issues’ ahead of federal budget
Ahead of the budget tomorrow, where changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax are expected, the housing minister, Clare O’Neil, said supply is the biggest problem with housing in Australia, but it was not the only problem.
She told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that there are “serious intergenerational issues” with housing, with a younger generation facing very different housing challenges to their parents and grandparents.
We want to see them get ahead and preferably in their own homes.
O’Neil said the government is focused on making housing more affordable, and for young people to be in a position to access it.
I will not foreshadow what is in the budget tomorrow but I can say a big focus of our government is trying to make sure housing is more affordable and young people are in a position to get access to it.
Our main focus is on supply, but we also have to think about equity and making sure young people have an opportunity to get into a home.
Asked whether the situation had changed much in the past two years, after the government ruled out changes to CGT and negative gearing at the last election, O’Neil said it had been building for the past 40 years, and people will look at what is in the budget and if this is the right reform at the right time.
I fiercely believe the answer is yes.
She said housing is a principal focus of this term of government and it will be laid out in the budget tomorrow.
Updated
Hantavirus ‘a very different beast’ than Covid-19, Butler says
Staff on the repatriation flights for the Australians on the hantavirus-affected ship will have “very high levels of protection” but advice to those travelling on board on quarantine or isolation requirements will be given once arrangements are put in place, the health minister, Mark Butler, says.
He said none of the Australians returning to Australia have symptoms of hantavirus at this stage.
Asked whether the report on the Covid pandemic stating people would be less likely to accept “heavy handed” government responses such as lockdowns was in his mind when making these decisions, Butler said Covid was a very different type of virus to hantavirus.
I mean, I think all of the public health advice about this virus is that it is not a virus with pandemic potential.
I mean, transmission is very difficult human to human.
But that does not mean that there is not a risk of transmission.
And as you’ve seen, three deaths from eight cases, transmission of this virus can have very, very serious, including deadly consequences.
So, you know, I’m not really seeing these two things as analogous – that coronavirus-based pandemic is a very different beast to deal with than this risk.
We’re assessing this risk on its own merits and based on public health advice.
Updated
Australians repatriated from hantavirus-infected cruise ship to be quarantined for three weeks near Perth
The health minister, Mark Butler, is holding a press conference on the Australians being repatriated from the hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius from the Canary Islands.
He said five Australians were passengers on the ship, along with one New Zealander who will be covered by the repatriations.
He said the new Australian Centre for Disease Control has been coordinating federal and state governments for repatriation, with flights still in the process of being finalised.
Three of the five Australians are residents of New South Wales, and the other two are from Queensland.
Butler said national quarantine arrangements will list the hantavirus as a listed human disease under the Biosecurity Act in the next 24 hours.
Those returning to Australia will be subject to quarantine at the Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience just north-east of Perth, next to RAF Base Pearce, which is where the flight will return to Australia.
The centre is owned and operated by the federal government, in partnership with WA Health.
There will be a quarantine period of three weeks, which is short of the 42-day potential incubation period for Hantavirus, and Butler said that further advice will be sought from chief health officers on what arrangements should take place beyond the initial three weeks.
He said:
I want to stress that our primary responsibility as a government, obviously, is to keep our community safe and healthy.
We also have a responsibility to those passengers to bring them home and to protect them from any risk, no matter how small, of potentially transmitting the virus without knowing it.
And these arrangements discharge those responsibilities.
Updated
Instructure CEO apologises following hack of Canvas education platform
On Friday in the live blog, we reported that dozens of schools and universities in Australia had been affected by a hack on the Canvas education platform, with some universities such as RMIT and UTS giving assignment extensions while the platform was taken offline.
The service was restored over the weekend and Instructure chief executive, Steve Daly, has apologised for the disruption.
He said:
Over the past few days, many of you dealt with real disruption. Stress on your teams. Missed moments in the classroom. Questions you couldn’t get answered. You deserved more consistent communication from us, and we didn’t deliver it. I’m sorry for that.
Daly said the unauthorised access included access to data including usernames, email addresses, course names, enrolment information and messages.
He apologised for not speaking publicly earlier, saying the company wanted to “get the facts right” first but the balance was wrong:
We focused on fact-finding and went quiet when you needed consistent updates. You’ve been clear about that, and it’s fair feedback. We will change that moving forward.
Instructure will now keep live an incident update page, promising more updates and a forensics report. Daly said Canvas is now fully operational and safe to use.
Thank you all so much for following along with me on the blog today! I’ll leave you with the excellent Josh Taylor to take you through the afternoon.
I’ll see you back here tomorrow to take you through all the key numbers of the budget.
Flotilla to Gaza reaches Turkish waters with 10 Australians onboard
Ten Australians are onboard a Global Sumud Flotilla that has crossed international waters from multiple ports to merge into a group of 60 boats in Turkey, as part of an attempt to break Israel’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid.
It comes after 22 boats were intercepted off the coast of Crete earlier this month. About 175 activists were taken off the ships by the Israel Defense Forces and released in Greece, including six Australians, while two were transported to Israel and released after six days.
Among those Australians onboard the current flotilla, which is stationed off the coast of Marmaris according to a live tracker, are Neve O’Connor, Zack Schofield and Surya McEwen, who were part of the fleet that was intercepted by Israel.
Lawyer Greg Barns alleged international law had been “repeatedly violated” by the capture and detention of supporters of Palestine in international waters far from Gaza.
Schofield, who was held for two days by Israeli forces, said “if Australians want to live in a fair world, we have to stand up for fairness”.
We have to take risks for others, no matter their religion or place of birth. As long as I’m able, I’ll keep sailing to Gaza despite the risks of violence from our allied state. I’m willing to face a beating if it means a chance of getting food and medicine to ordinary people being bombed in their tents, shot at aid sites, and starved.
The Israeli foreign ministry and the Israeli embassy were approached for comment.
Updated
Coalition MPs backtrack on suggestions they could partner with One Nation
The will-they-won’t-they around One Nation joining the Coalition hit a crescendo after this weekend’s byelection – but most players have today slammed the door on that idea.
That includes Tim Wilson, who earlier this morning walked back his comments to the ABC’s Insiders yesterday, that the Liberal party could work with One Nation if that’s who Australian voters supported at a future election.
Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce have also shut down the idea.
You can see who’s been yapping about it here - from my colleagues Josh Butler and Tom McIlroy:
Updated
Australian shares drop as Middle East ceasefire frays
The local share market has slipped after the US rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal to end the Middle East war, AAP reports.
Shortly after midday on Monday, the S&P/ASX200 index was down 49.7 points, or 0.57%, while the broader All Ordinaries had fallen 47.1 points, or 0.52%.
EToro market analyst Josh Gilbert said that risk-off sentiment was likely to prevail after the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar all reported drone strikes in the region and US President Donald Trump slammed Iran’s offer to end the war.
Trump calling the offer ‘totally unacceptable’ is exactly the kind of headline that markets hate.
The strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, Gilbert added, and each failed negotiation is a reminder that there is no quick fix to the biggest oil supply disruption in history.
Domestically, investors are also waiting for details of Australia’s federal budget, which treasurer Jim Chalmers will hand down on Tuesday night.
At midday five of the ASX’s 11 sectors were higher and six were lower.
Updated
The budget papers are hot off the press
In a good year (read: a non-volatile period) the budget is always down to the wire because forecasts are being updated constantly.
The timing has been even tighter this year due to the war in Iran with even bigger changes to those forecasts.
But time’s up for the hard workers of the treasury department, because the documents have been printed, and handed over to the treasurer, Jim Chalmers (who immediately posted about it on social media).
We might even get some pics this afternoon of the glossy covers – you’ll never guess what colour they are (they’re always dark blue).
Greens the victim of ‘tactical voting’ in Farrer, says Waters
Waters was also asked about the Greens’ performance in the Farrer byelection, where it polled just 2.2% after suffering a 2.6% swing.
The poor showing was despite Labor not running a candidate, which in theory left more progressive votes up for grabs.
Waters speculated that the Greens were the victim of “tactical voting”, suggesting its supporters swung in behind Michelle Milthorpe in the hope of defeating One Nation.
The Greens were not setting out to win the seat of Farrer. But what’s really clear from the weekend’s result is that this was a rejection of both major parties, and this was a vote against the system. But Pauline Hanson’s approach to blame migrants so that she can protect the system, like her mate, Gina Rinehart, will not help anybody’s rent or groceries or cost-of-living become more affordable.
Updated
Greens say ‘time for tinkering’ on housing is over ahead of federal budget
The Greens leader, Larissa Waters, says the “time for tinkering is long gone” as she demands ambitious reform to fix the housing crisis in Tuesday’s budget.
Housing is expected to be a major focus of Jim Chalmers’ economic update, with changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount part of a strategy to get younger people in the market.
The Greens have campaigned to abolish the two concessions, which have been blamed for turning housing into investment vehicles for older and wealthier Australians.
Labor will almost certainly need the Greens’ support to get any changes through the Senate, meaning the minor party’s position is critical. Speaking to reporters in Parliament House, Waters said:
Housing affordability is the biggest crisis that this government is facing and people are seriously hurting. We are in a deep housing crisis and what people don’t want to see is tinkering. They would like the housing crisis to be fixed and that is the job of the government. They don’t want to see tinkering. And the Greens have been calling for the abolition of these property investor tax perks for years now.
Updated
Colin Boyce changes tune, declares he’s ‘absolutely committed’ to the Nationals
LNP MP Colin Boyce now says he is “absolutely committed to the National Party” despite telling Guardian Australia over the weekend that he was reconsidering his political future after the Farrer byelection result.
Asked at a press conference today, Boyce said he was not joining One Nation. Boyce, member for the central Queensland seat of Flynn, said he’d been successful in his local electorate because “I’ve always been very clear where I sit on a range of issues, including dumping net zero, support for the mining and resource sector, the alumina sector, the gas sector, the cement sector, all of those blue-collar jobs that make up the industrial heartland of central Queensland”.
So the short answer to your [question] is, am I joining One Nation? No.
Over the weekend, Boyce told Guardian Australia: “I think everybody should be thinking about their political future, particularly the people who are the organisers in the hierarchy. If this isn’t a wake-up call for conservative politics, what is?”
I’m only facing the reality of what I’ve been trying to point out for a very long time. The point is, central Queensland is quite happy to vote One Nation.
For good measure, Boyce also hit the socials on Monday, professing his commitment to his current party:
Updated
PM should sack Wells over expenses issue, says shadow communications minister
Sarah Henderson is calling for Anika Wells’ head, over reports in the Australian Financial Review, casting more doubt over her claimed travel expenses.
That comes after the communications minister repaid $10,000 in incorrect travel expenses last week. Read here for the full recap:
Wells told the travel watchdog that she had held an official meeting with South Australian Labor minister Chris Picton on the same night she attended his wife’s birthday party in South Australia, and had claimed travel for the journey. But Picton would not answer questions or corroborate the evidence.
Henderson told Sky News a few moments ago that the latest reports were “beyond the pale” and that Wells should be stood aside.
The whole thing has a very very bad smell about it … The prime minister must now stand down his minister and investigate this particular weekend travel. She’s got a pretty sordid track record when it comes to managing her travel.
Canavan suggests Nationals could win Farrer at next election
The Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, has waved off the Coalition’s poor showing in the Farrer byelection, suggesting his party would keep trying to win the seat back despite polling under 10% in the weekend’s poll.
Canavan denied that his party was under existential threat from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation but said the Coalition needed to keep working to show voters what they stood for.
We got a good vote. We’re happy with that and we’re going to be back. We’ll come back and fight for Farrer again. There’s another election very soon. This is like a two-legged final, perhaps we played an away match on the weekend, where it was difficult circumstances at a byelection. Next time, we might be on a home ground advantage when the choice of government is up for grabs.
Canavan rejected the Coalition splits over the past year – where the Nationals twice walked away from the Liberals in policy disputes – were a factor in the byelection result, where the Liberal and National candidates struggled to attract a combined 22% of the vote.
What I’m going to be focused on doing is beating David [Farley]. Sorry to say. I congratulate him but I want to beat him in the next election with the Nationals candidate … that was an election where we were kicking into the wind and we’ll dust ourselves off and have another crack.
Updated
$100m to speed up Canberra to Sydney rail line
The federal, ACT and NSW government’s have promised a chunk of cash each to help speed up the rail line between Sydney and Canberra.
Currently it takes four-and-a-half hours to go between the two cities, while the bus is an hour faster.
Speaking to reporters this morning, Katy Gallagher the finance minister and former ACT chief minister, made the announcement, saying the aim is to get the journey to under four hours. The federal government is chipping in $50m while the state and territory governments will hand over $25m each.
Gallagher says the Labor government cares about the territory, unlike previous governments.
It’s very easy to write Canberra off politically. It’s a small city punches above its weight. But I think in the past, when I was in the chief minister’s job working with the Coalition government, [they] didn’t care about Canberra.
Updated
Queensland clears backlog of 601 rape kits after DNA lab scandal
Queensland has cleared a backlog of 601 rape kits, left untested after a series of scandals at the state’s forensic DNA lab.
A string of investigations, including two commissions of inquiry, found a series of errors and failings at Forensic Science Queensland.
The lab proved unable to keep up with demand. By November 2024, the lab had a backlog of 601 rape kits and 11,700 “major crime” samples left untested by the lab, according to the attorney general, Deb Frecklington. The government subsequently outsourced testing to a lab in the United States.
Frecklington said on Monday that all rape kits had been tested, and the major crime backlog was down to 3,488.
This means victims of sexual violence, in particular, can get answers sooner. It means police can get their evidence to courts sooner and, importantly, it means offenders being bought before the courts much quicker.
The director of Forensic Science Queensland, Mick Fuller, said the lab would restart testing rape kits in July.
We never want another backlog with the sexual assault kits and my guarantee, as long as the labs are standing, that we won’t have a backlog again in that place.
Updated
You might say this has been one of the leakier pre-budget periods, with many of the key budget announcements already in the public sphere.
So, ahead of Jim Chalmers’ handing down his fifth budget tomorrow, here’s everything we already know from my colleague Tom McIlroy:
Minns says Labor will be under pressure in some seats from One Nation
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, says Labor will be under pressure in some seats from One Nation at the March 2027 state election, after the party’s historic victory in the federal byelection in Farrer.
At the opening of a pre-public school in western Sydney this morning, the premier said David Farley’s victory in the NSW electorate marked “a seismic change when it comes to politics in Australia”.
We will be under pressure in some of our seats and there’ll be some Labor voters that don’t want to vote Labor and are prepared to vote for Pauline Hanson. We’ve got nine months to try and get them back.
Minns again took aim at the state opposition for not ruling out a preference or coalition deal with One Nation. Asked what his message was for western Sydney voters after Barnaby Joyce’s comments that One Nation will move on to targeting the region, he said:
I don’t think it’s enough to say we’re coming. You’ve got to deliver the policies and you have to explain to the public in western Sydney how you’re going to make life better and not have us all just ripping each other apart in a divisive political campaign.
Updated
Priority social housing waitlist more than doubles in four years
The number of NSW households on the priority social housing waitlist has more than doubled in four years, with some communities recording increases up to 500%, a new report by Homelessness NSW has revealed.
The report found 12,478 households are on the priority waitlist in NSW, up 115% from 5,800 in June 2021.
The Homelessness NSW chief executive, Dominique Rowe, said:
People who are extremely vulnerable are being forced into desperate circumstances including homelessness due to the severe lack of social housing in our state.
Rowe said the chronic shortage of social housing was the result of decades of neglect by successive governments:
We are calling on the state government to adopt a target of 10% of all homes being social housing, and to commit continued investment into growing our social housing stock until we get there.
Wagga Wagga, where a newborn infant recently died in homelessness, recorded the highest increase, with a 500% rise since 2021. Over the same period, median rents in Wagga rose 41%. The priority list rose 450% in Griffith and 330% in Tamworth, which both suffered rent increases of 31%.
Updated
Australian women charged with slavery offences over time in Islamic State face court
Two Australian women charged with slavery offences that allegedly occurred while they lived under Islamic State rule in Syria have faced a Melbourne court.
Kawsar Ahmad, 53, also known as Abbas, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, were arrested by officers from the Victorian joint counter-terrorism team at Melbourne airport on Thursday.
Police allege the pair travelled to Syria in 2014 with their family and knowingly kept an enslaved woman in their home, and that Kawsar was complicit in the purchase of an enslaved woman for US$10,000.
The pair appeared before the chief magistrate, Lisa Hannan, on Monday.
But the Melbourne magistrates court heard that they would not be applying for bail, as had been foreshadowed on Friday.
Zeinab is expected to apply for bail at a hearing on 4 June, with Kawsar’s application expected on 16 June.
Neither woman was required to speak or enter a plea during the short hearing, before they were remanded in custody.
The AFP will allege the offences were terrorism-related and are expected to oppose bail.
Court documents released to the media on Friday show Kawsar is accused of intentionally exercising “any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership” over a person, in circumstances “where the conduct was committed intentionally or knowingly as part of a widespread or systemic attack directed against a civilian population”.
She is also accused of “intentionally exercising” the “powers attaching to right of ownership” regarding the use and possession of a slave. Zeinab faces the same two charges.
The offences allegedly occurred between 1 June 2017 and 1 November 2018 at Mayadin, Hajim, Gharanij, Bahra, Abu Hamam, Walaa and other places in Deir ez-Zur province, in eastern Syria.
On or about 1 June 2017 in Mayadin or elsewhere in the same province, Kawsar Ahmad is also accused of intentionally engaging in slave trading.
Royal commission hears criticism of Israel not inherently antisemitic
Julie Nathan, appearing before the commission in her capacity as research director for the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said criticism of Israel was not inherently antisemitic, “even though a lot of it is incredibly offensive”.
But Nathan argued criticism that invoked Nazi Germany or anti-Jewish tropes should be considered antisemitic.
For example, if it uses older anti-Jewish tropes, you know, such as the blood libel, or Jews are Satanic … they might say ‘Israel is satanic’. So then that kind of feeds into that.
She said “no other country in the world is compared to Nazi Germany, only Israel”.
Nathan said pro-Palestinian protest material, such as posters and stickers, were not inherently antisemitic but could be considered examples of Jew-hatred dependent on context.
We don’t count anything pro-Palestinian as anti-Jewish unless, for example, if there’s a ‘free Palestine’ sticker and it’s stuck on a synagogue or outside a Jewish school.
If they’re using pro-Palestine material to target Jews, that in itself then becomes antisemitic.
Updated
Nationals launch petition to build inland rail
The Nationals have launched a “rescue our rail” petition today to save the northern half of the inland rail project, scrapped by the Albanese government last week, after its pricetag skyrocketed (once again) to a hefty $45bn.
Matt Canavan donned a flannel shirt today, a hangover perhaps from his visit to Farrer where he stayed overnight in a swag (which he has brought with him to parliament today), and looks a little different to his suited up colleagues.
On the byelection, Canavan says he showed up and spent time on the ground across the electorate “to take our medicine to hear the views of everyday Australians who clearly want change”. Moving on to the inland rail, he says:
This broken promise on the inland rail is one that cuts very very deeply for lots of the businesses and communities that have invested so much on the promise of multiple governments that we would finally build a proper rail line between Brisbane and Melbourne and open up the inland of this country.
The shadow infrastructure minister, Bridget McKenzie, accuses the government of cancelling the project to instead spend it on Victoria’s contentious suburban rail loop.
If you wanted any other indication of what Anthony Albanese and the Labor party thinks about the 9 million of us that don’t live in capital cities, you didn’t need to go to Farrer to work that out.
The prime minister has decided to give [Victorian premier] Jacinta Allen, his factional mate in the ALP, a couple of extra lazy billion dollars.
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Wilson walks back comments suggesting Liberals open to forming coalition with One Nation
Jumping back to Tim Wilson’s doorstop a bit earlier: the shadow treasurer changed his tune slightly on whether the opposition would form a coalition with One Nation.
So far some in the Liberal party – including shadow cabinet minister Ted O’Brien – as well as One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce and leader, Pauline Hanson, have said there would be no joining of the parties.
Yesterday, Wilson was asked on the ABC’s Insiders whether there could be a coalition between the three parties, and he said “we traditionally form a coalition with the National party, but it’s up to the Australian people to decide who they want to vote for”.
But today, he took a little step back and slammed that door shut.
I have never, ever, ever – and never, ever, ever will – make such a statement in favour of such an alliance. The reality is the leader of that party has already declared that she won’t form a coalition with us, and I have no interest in forming a coalition with them.
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How Farrer swung towards One Nation – in maps
Here’s a look at how the swing was on for One Nation across the booths in Farrer on Saturday, by my colleagues Josh Nicholas, Nick Evershed, and Andy Ball.
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Disability charity warns people with complex needs risk going without adequate support under NDIS changes
One of Australia’s largest disability charities has warned the national disability insurance scheme already does not adequately fund services for some people with complex needs, and changes to the scheme risk continuing that gap.
The Endeavour Foundation, a charity supporting more than 6,500 clients with disabilities, says if people with complex needs continue to have inadequate funding, charities like theirs risk becoming unsustainable.
The chief executive, Andrew Chesterman, says the announcement of a new commissioning model to support independent living “sounds promising”, but there is an urgent need to provide funding to NDIS participants that have inadequate plans.
He says:
We feel we cannot abandon our clients with the greatest needs, who need the most support, just because their NDIS plans are inadequate. We will continue to do our best for all our clients, but these challenges are exactly why so many charities are going broke. People with complex disabilities need complex support.
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Haines welcomes Labor’s funding for housing infrastructure, following her advocacy
Independent MP Helen Haines has welcomed the government’s budget funding for housing infrastructure this morning, saying that Labor took a little peak at her homework to build the policy.
The regional Victorian MP says she has been calling on the government to invest in critical infrastructure such as water, sewerage and power for years to get more homes built – particularly in regional Australia.
She says:
I’ve been building the case for targeted investment in this infrastructure, because without it, we simply cannot build the homes our communities need.
This is exactly the kind of practical, targeted policy regional communities have been crying out for – and it’s encouraging to see the government has listened and adopting this approach.
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Australia Post fuel surcharge skyrockets
Rising fuel prices have hit Australia Post, with the service setting a 19.5% surcharge for the month of June.
Australia Post changes the surcharge every month, or sometimes not apply it at all depending on the cost. It says the surcharge is “based on an estimation of Australia Post’s direct costs and indirect fuel costs that relies on existing fuel prices to predict fuel costs on a forward-looking basis”.
The first three weeks of April saw a fuel surcharge of just 4.8%, while the final week of April and month of May saw the surcharge rise to 12%.
Next month it’ll hit 19.5%.
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Tim Wilson accuses Labor of ‘deceit and betrayal’ on tax
Tim Wilson is trying to pin the government down on breaking its promises not to touch negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts, accusing Anthony Albanese of “deceit and betrayal” of voters.
He says the budget is in “disarray” from the broken promises, and the series of leaks that have come out ahead of tomorrow.
Speaking to the press at Parliament House, Wilson says the changes would be “new taxes on the self-starters of this nation”.
The prime minister was red hot with rage before the last election saying 50 times over in his own words that he wasn’t going to touch negative gearing, capital gains tax or family trusts, but he seems set to breach all those promises tomorrow night.
Wilson also tries to drive a wedge between the PM and his treasurer, Jim Chalmers – who has been eager to see the government drive major reforms.
For [Albanese] to have to continue to have to eat so many humble pies while he is in the process of not even delivering his budget yet, shows the budget is in disarray.
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NSW preparing for arrival of passengers aboard MV Hondius
NSW Health is working with the federal government and other states to receive, transport and provide care to passengers from the MV Hondius when they return from the Canary Islands later this week.
Four Australian citizens, one permanent resident and a New Zealand citizen will be aboard a charter flight from Tenerife scheduled to leave around 5pm local time on Monday, en route to Perth. They will then travel to their home states or country: in Australia, the five residents live in New South Wales and Queensland.
NSW Health said on arrival the passengers will immediately be transported by ambulance to the NSW biocontainment centre at Westmead hospital in Sydney, where they will undergo clinical assessment. Health officials will then assess “suitable quarantine arrangements”, a spokesperson said this morning.
The spokesperson added:
These passengers will be closely monitored, and should any develop symptoms they will be assessed by an infectious diseases physician and be provided appropriate care.
The risk to the public is low. Hantavirus is only rarely transmitted from person to person, and transmission requires close contact. People with hantavirus infection are not infectious before their symptoms begin. The time from exposure to hantavirus to the onset of symptoms (incubation period) can be up to six weeks.
The Guardian has reached out to Queensland Health for comment.
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Antisemitism royal commission resumes public hearings
The royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion resumes public hearings this morning: the second week of a fortnight block of hearings focused on defining antisemitism, its historical and contemporary manifestations and its current impact on Jewish Australians.
Nine witnesses are scheduled to appear before commissioner Virginia Bell, including Tahli Blicblau, chief executive of The Dor Foundation, and Julie Nathan, research director at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Rabbi Menachem Dadon, whose daughter was shot in the Bondi terror attack, but survived, will give evidence, as will Rabbi Daniel Rabin from Caulfield Shule and musician Deborah Conway. Other witnesses will be pseudonymised.
The prime minister was on radio this morning, arguing social cohesion remained a major concern in Australia, after a mother in Sydney was charged by police for allegedly abusing a Jewish children’s netball team using antisemitic slurs. Anthony Albanese told RN Breakfast:
I understand there are charges here so I won’t go into the specifics, but the idea that anyone would go to a children’s sporting event and say anything that is hateful, let alone anything which is hateful on the basis of race or faith, is just beyond belief, frankly.
We as a society need to come to terms with that. We need to be better.
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‘You split ours, we didn’t split yours,’ says Joyce
The media-loving Barnaby Joyce is still doing his rounds across the press gallery this morning, talking about the dominance of One Nation over the weekend in Farrer.
It’s the first federal lower house seat the party has ever won, and will give Joyce a colleague on the crossbench.
But Joyce, speaking to Sky News, says he isn’t getting ahead of himself when talking about being a party of government (they would have to take 74 seats from Labor and the Coalition to be able to claim a majority).
He says the narrative needs to change that One Nation is “splitting” the vote from the Coalition – and it’s actually the opposite.
It’s so conceited, ‘One Nation is splitting our vote’, mate, you got 12% you split it. You split ours, we didn’t split yours. You don’t own votes, you earn votes.
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Albanese wasn’t ‘that surprised’ by Farrer result
Anthony Albanese is continuing to stick the knife into the Liberal party after it lost its seat of Farrer to One Nation, saying he wasn’t that surprised the minor party won.
Former Liberal leader Sussan Ley resigned from parliament earlier this year after she was ousted by Angus Taylor, sparking the byelection.
Speaking to 4CA radio Cairns, Albanese says the Liberals and Nationals “don’t really stand for anything any more”.
But Albanese doesn’t believe that One Nation’s win will spread any further across the country – despite Barnaby Joyce saying this morning that his party was coming for western Sydney.
I wasn’t really that surprised … If the Liberal party just tried to be One Nation lite, then they shouldn’t be surprised that people will vote for the real thing, rather than the lighter version of it.
I’m not sure that One Nation’s appeal will go beyond the sort of seat that we’ve seen and where they traditionally have done OK. I think the problem for them is that they really focus on grievance rather than solutions. They’re not really a party of government.
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‘No plans’ for a Liberal coalition with One Nation, says Ted O’Brien
Ted O’Brien, the shadow foreign minister and former deputy leader under Sussan Ley, says the Liberal party will learn the lessons of Saturday’s byelection loss – but that won’t involve looking towards a coalition with One Nation.
Speaking to RN Breakfast earlier this morning, he said the loss wasn’t all about the leadership changes within the Liberal and National parties. He adds that One Nation is a “broad movement” and that it’s “doing a good job of amplifying the problems”.
We have no plans for going into a coalition with One Nation. Again, if we focus on the Australian people, if we focus on developing substantive policy. If we focus on removing this very poor Albanese government, that puts us in good stead. So, you know, I’m personally not looking around at any major structural change, trying to engage with One Nation under some formal coalition.
One Nation has already claimed credit for several Coalition policies, and for Angus Taylor on taking a hardline stance on immigration – something we know Pauline Hanson has campaigned on from day one.
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Australians on board hantavirus ship in a ‘terrible situation’, says Watt
As my colleague, Josh Butler, brought you earlier, the government is repatriating six people – four Australian citizens, one permanent resident and one New Zealand resident – from Tenerife today, who were on board the MV Hondius.
That flight is expected to land in Perth tomorrow.
Cabinet minister Murray Watt spoke to ABC News Breakfast earlier and the government is ensuring the group “receive the care that they need”:
It’s obviously a terrible situation that these people are in, going on a cruise, expecting to have a nice holiday, and finding themselves in this situation. We have agreed to repatriate a small number of Australians … Arrangements are being made with the states and territories around the quarantining of those people, but all of that work is now under way.
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‘Revolving door of leaders does not lead to stability’: Albanese backs Starmer
Jumping back to the prime minister’s interview on RN, Anthony Albanese staunchly defended his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, after UK Labour faced a heavy loss in last weekend’s local elections.
Already, leadership challengers are beginning to circle, with more than 40 MPs calling on Starmer to quit:
But Albanese says he hopes Starmer will stay on.
I hope that Keir Starmer continues to serve as prime minister of the United Kingdom. He was elected a relatively short period of time. I’ve dealt with four prime ministers of Great Britain since I was elected as prime minister and the revolving door of leaders does not lead to stability.
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Joyce says One Nation ‘not an open door’ to disgruntled Coalition MPs
With One Nation’s byelection win has come rumours of more defections from the Coalition to join Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce’s ranks.
In fact, my colleague Sarah Martin spoke to Queensland Nationals MP Colin Boyce, who said “I consider a lot of things” in response to whether he was considering a shift to the minor rightwing party.
But Joyce isn’t welcoming all potential defectors with open arms:
It’s not just because you jump doesn’t mean we catch you. What does that mean? Well, it’s not an open door that anybody who wishes, just walks into One Nation …
I mean, obviously, the Liberal party really do have to do some soul-searching after the weekend because that was catastrophic. That is almost a signal that things might be over.
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‘We’re not a party of government … yet,’ says Joyce
Barnaby Joyce is doing something of a victory lap for One Nation this morning, hitting the radio and TVs to celebrate the emphatic byelection win.
In the hot seat after the PM on the ABC’s RN Breakfast, Joyce says the party will go “as far as the Australian people want it to go” – ie he’s saying watch out major parties.
The sort of conceited statement, ‘Oh, you’re not a party of government.’ Well, let’s finish that with a rejoiner, yet.
He says the rightwing party is coming for western Sydney – traditionally Labor heartland – and warns politicians that they need to “sober up” or risk being wiped out.
This is a dynamic change. And talking to people last night in the western suburbs of Sydney, last night, they’re quite at home with the idea of One Nation being a dominant force in western Sydney. Absolutely 100% on board with the idea.
Just a reminder here though, with now two seats in the lower house, the party still has a fair way to go to the 76 needed to form government.
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Albanese defends breaking promise to not touch negative gearing and CGT
Good government makes “the right decisions for the right reasons for the times that you are in”, says Albanese, when asked why the government will reform negative gearing and capital gains tax in tomorrow’s budget.
Host Sally Sara asks if the PM is about to break a promise, and does that play into the narrative of people’s frustration with the major parties.
Albanese won’t say explicitly that the two policies are being changed tomorrow, but says intergenerational inequality needs to be dealt with.
He tells RN Breakfast that housing is a key priority for the government – and the government will use all levers at its disposal, including accelerating supply.
We know people are under pressure. And the easy path is to say, oh, well, we’ll just sit back and watch that occur. The difficult decision, but the right decision is to do the right thing with the right policies to deliver. And clearly, people are frustrated. Issues like intergenerational equity. People are worried that younger Australians are never going to get a crack at home ownership … too many young people are close to giving up on the opportunity of owning their own home.
If we do change our position on any policy, we will explain why it is that that is occurring.
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Coalition ‘legitimised’ One Nation, says Albanese
Anthony Albanese says the Farrer byelection was “devastating” for Angus Taylor and his Liberal party, criticising the Coalition for adopting One Nation “lite” policies, and preferencing their candidate.
Speaking to RN Breakfast this morning, the prime minister says Taylor and the Nationals leader Matt Canavan “legitimised” the rightwing party.
I think the Liberal party and National party made a big mistake legitimising One Nation and saying, in adopting many of their policies, but a lighter version of them, and then following that up by giving them preferences, they were saying effectively that it was OK to vote for One Nation rather than the traditional conservative party.
[One Nation] are a political party led by someone who’s promoted grievance rather than solutions. And I understand, though, a protest vote will be cast. In this case, it was a devastating result, I think, for Angus Taylor and the Liberal party.
He, like Jane Hume a moment ago, says that people have been disappointed over the two breakups of the Coalition.
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‘We’ve heard the message loud and clear,’ says Hume on byelection loss
The Liberal party deputy leader, Jane Hume, has a tough job this morning fronting up to the camera’s after a big loss to One Nation at the weekend.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast this morning, the Victorian senator says the party has lost the trust of the people – not helped by two splits of the Coalition – and needs to build back a policy platform.
Host, James Glenday, asks why Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan weren’t able to stem the flow of votes to the minor rightwing party.
The community were feeling disillusioned. We’ve heard the message loud and clear. We need to rebuild trust.
It’s only been 10 weeks that Angus Taylor has been the leader, and fewer than that that Matt Canavan has been a leader of the National party. I think that the breaking up of the Coalition twice just in the last 12 months alone has been a pretty devastating breach of trust for the Australian people. They expect a united and strong coalition. That’s what is in place now, but we pay the price for that breach of trust at the Farrer byelection.
Asked whether Hume could imagine the Coalition welcoming One Nation into its ranks, Hume calls it a “massive hypothetical”:
I’m not going to anticipate that. That may well be the case however we should congratulate One Nation on their historic win in Farrer,
It’s not a flat-out no, is it?
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Barnaby Joyce says no to One Nation joining the Coalition
Barnaby Joyce says One Nation is on the up and up, and will “go for government” after bagging its first federal lower house win.
But the former deputy prime minister, who defected to the minor rightwing party late last year, says he’s not open to his new party joining his old one, ruling out a larger Coalition.
He tells Channel Nine this morning, One Nation is prepared to offer “supply and confidence” but no more than that.
We’ll offer supply and confidence on policy outcomes … and that is not a Coalition. We don’t want your ministries, keep your ministries and your salaries.
You’ve got all the prizes, but you will deliver policy outcomes because we are not going to be constricted by cabinet solidarity that has done over the Australian people and the conservative side of balance of power so badly.
Ah cabinet solidarity, that old chestnut. It basically means that Joyce wants to be able to say what he wants to say on policy and not have to toe the Coalition party line.
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One Nation win in Farrer, not a ‘protest vote’ says Farley
David Farley, the soon-to-be One Nation representative for Farrer, says he was humbled and excited winning Saturday’s byelection that was triggered by for Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s resignation.
Speaking to Sky News this morning, he says he doesn’t believe his victory was a “protest vote” against the major parties.
I don’t think it’s actually a protest vote. It was a vote of relief, someone seeking a better future.
Farley is an interesting character because his stance on migration is slightly more nuanced that leader Pauline Hanson’s. Farrer has a large and essential migrant population that work across the region, and Farley says he’ll ensure those workers are still coming in:
I will definitely continue to fight for skilled visas into Farrer. We are a big user of skilled labour, immigration labour, the Palm plan, the skilled aged care nursing plan, all those programs are still there.
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Government repatriating passengers from hantavirus ship
The federal government will charter a jet to repatriate five Australians from Tenerife, who had been on the MV Hondius, a cruise ship hit by hantavirus.
A government spokesperson overnight said four citizens, a permanent resident, and a New Zealand citizen will be repatriated on a flight due to leave today. None of the passengers have symptoms of the virus, according to government sources. The Australians live in NSW and Queensland.
The Australian Government is working closely with state authorities to coordinate arrival, health and transport arrangements. Quarantine and health arrangements are managed by states in accordance with their public health requirements.
The flight is expected to land in Perth on Tuesday, with quarantine arrangements being finalised. It’s expected the passengers will be transferred directly to a quarantine location upon arrival. A range of government departments, including Communicable Diseases Network and the National Emergency Management Agency’s national Crisis Coordination Team, are involved in the operation.
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Chalmers talks up faster approvals processes as productivity boost
Ahead of delivering his fifth budget tomorrow night, Jim Chalmers says the government’s moves to fast track approvals for priority projects is a key productivity measure for the country.
Our big productivity push is all about getting compliance costs down and cutting red tape, making it easier and faster to build, and making Australia a more attractive place to invest and that’s what we’re doing through the EPBC.
We’re fast-tracking approvals to build more homes for Australians.
More efficient approvals mean projects get off the ground quicker and Australians get into homes sooner.
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Budget to include $500m for faster environmental approvals
Tomorrow night’s federal budget will include $500m in new funding for faster approvals for housing, energy and critical minerals projects, part of changes to national environment laws.
The government will also provide funding to states and territories to speed up environmental assessments around the country.
As part of the plans, $105.9m will be spent over four years to provide better access to information needed for approvals, including using AI to better access environmental data.
Labor passed major changes to Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act last year, and sluggish approval times have been identified as a key area of delays across the economy. The environment minister, Murray Watt, says:
Now, this new funding will put those laws to work, unlocking major projects and helping proponents get a faster yes or a faster no.
That’s a win-win for our economy and our precious natural environment.
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you. Friends, it’s budget week, and it has come very quickly if you ask me!
We’re getting a few final announcements from the government before Jim Chalmers hands down his budget tomorrow. That includes some money to speed up environmental approvals to boost productivity (more on that in a moment). Of course, all the big-ticket items – including reforms to capital gains tax, negative gearing and trusts, have already been out for weeks.
Saturday’s byelection has (as many have commented) created huge waves across Canberra, and there will be plenty of reaction to it – and its impacts – today.
Stick with us, it’s going to be a huge day.
