What we learned, Wednesday 6 May
With that, we’ll wrap the blog for the evening. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow. Until then, here were the major developments of the day:
Anthony Albanese has announced the budget will include a more than $10bn package to ensure fuel and fertiliser security, including a permanent, government-owned fuel security reserve of about 1bn litres.
The minister for multicultural affairs, Anne Aly, said she rejects claims from the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, that the government is “helping” Islamic State-linked Australians from returning home and that the laws the Coalition proposed would have prevented them from doing so after news 13 members of the families will travel home to Australia.
A man who was moved on by police from out the front of the building where the royal commission into antisemitism has been taking place has been arrested, NSW police say.
The high court has dismissed an appeal by an Iranian man against being sent to Nauru for 30 years.
Victoria police commissioner, Mike Bush, alleges ‘serious organised crime’ network are behind spate of fires at licensed premises in the state.
Books by Western Australian author Craig Silvey will be permanently removed from the state’s public school curriculum after he pleaded guilty to child exploitation offences.
And Khaled Sabsabi’s Venice Biennale artwork has gone on display at the Australia Pavilion, more than a year after the artist and curator were ditched from the job, sparking a raging controversy.
Updated
South Australia extends fishing bans due to effects of algal bloom
Commercial fishing bans in South Australia have been extended for a further year, due to the ongoing impact of the state’s harmful algal bloom on fish stocks.
The department of primary industries has notified commercial fishers that prohibitions will continue for the following species:
Marine scalefish and northern rock lobster in the Gulf St Vincent and Port Adelaide river
Southern calamari in Spencer gulf
Snapper across the Gulf St Vincent, Spencer gulf and west coast fishing zone.
In the Gulf St Vincent, the notice said there was:
Evidence of declines in King George Whiting … Southern Calamari and Southern Garfish have been severely affected, with near absence reported in many areas. No Southern Calamari egg masses were detected in dive surveys at known spawning areas. Juvenile Southern Garfish numbers also appear impacted.
Fishing was halted in late 2025 due to sharp declines in species such as calamari, garfish, King George whiting, western king prawn and blue swimmer crab.
Updated
