What we learned today, Monday 6 July
We will wrap up the live blog here for tonight.
This is what made the news:
-
China’s military tested a missile launch in designated waters of the Pacific.
-
The acting PM, Richard Marles, said Australia was informed by China in advance, but said he was very concerned about peace and security in the Pacific.
-
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the test was destablising to the region.
-
The shadow minister, Ted O’Brien, said the test was irresponsible.
-
Australia and Fiji agreed to a new defence alliance, Australia’s fourth.
-
Anthony Albanese apologised “unequivocally” after making an off-the-cuff remark on a comedy podcast when asked who he would “shag, marry or date”.
-
A 27-year-old Melbourne footballer is receiving end-of-life care in hospital after a horror head clash saw him fall to the ground and hit his head on a covered cricket pitch.
-
Meta has cracked down on the use of the word “Zionists”, a representative told the royal commission into antisemitism.
-
Native title rights have been awarded to traditional owners from the birthplace of one of Australia’s most prominent artists, the internationally renowned, late Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
Until tomorrow, enjoy your evening.
Updated
One Nation to contest WA byelection triggered by Labor MP’s resignation
The rising fortunes of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation will be put to the test after a byelection was triggered in a Labor-held state, AAP reports.
Paul Papalia, the Western Australian minister for corrective services and member for the seat of Secret Harbour, south of Perth, quit politics on Monday.
This isn’t what I’d planned.
One of my immediate family members has been diagnosed with a serious illness.
Papalia, a navy veteran who entered politics in 2007, won Secret Harbour for Labor in 2025, polling 61.5%of the two-party preferred vote, with a 28.5% swing away from the party.
One Nation, which polled 8.4% of votes in 2025, with a 6.3% swing to it, confirmed it will run a candidate.
The Liberals won 28.5% of the vote, recording a swing of 9.8% to the party.
The WA One Nation, leader Rod Caddies, said Labor has treated Secret Harbour as a safe seat and voters aren’t happy.
They’ve been missing in action, and we’re going to sink Labor in Secret Harbour.
The party has a short list of potential candidates, but no one has been officially nominated to run.
He said:
We want to make sure that we don’t leave any stone unturned in getting the very best.
Updated
China’s missile test has ‘potential to destablise’ region, assistant foreign minister says
The assistant foreign minister, Matt Thistlethwaite, tells ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that China’s missile test in the Pacific “has the potential to destabilise what is a very peaceful region”. He says this message has been conveyed to the Chinese government.
Australia has consistently been calling on China to sign up to that protocol, which provides for notification and information about where and when the tests will be conducted. So, we again urge China to follow the protocols in the future.
Thistlethwaite says the Australian government does not believe there is a link between the test and the new defence alliance Australia announced with Fiji on Monday.
Updated
Shadow foreign minister says China missile test is ‘irresponsible’
The shadow foreign minister, Ted O’Brien, has told reporters that China’s missile test in the Pacific is “irresponsible” and not welcome.
He said:
This is irresponsible and it is not welcome. On the very day that Australia is joining with one of its closest Pacific island neighbours to talk an ocean of peace, the People’s Republic of China has chosen to lob a missile in the region. This is not welcome news. I think it goes to a very clear contrast - between what the People’s Republic of China is looking at this region for compared to Australia.
Updated
Seven Hobart pubs and clubs to close
Rising expenses and cost-of-living tightening of purse strings have been blamed for the immediate closure of seven pubs and clubs in Hobart, AAP reports.
The group managing the venues announced on Monday it was entering voluntary administration and an urgent sale process to find new buyers had been launched.
More than 80 people who work at the establishments, six of which are situated on the city’s popular waterfront, have been stood down.
Among the closures include the Observatory Bar, dubbed Hobart’s biggest nightclub, and live music hotspot the Republic Bar in the city’s northern suburbs.
“The fact that we have reached this point is deeply disappointing,” Ian Vaughan, director of Pub Banc Group and Hotel Banc Group, which owned the venues, said.
Hospitality Tasmania chief executive Steve Old said the decision came as a shock and it would be shattering if the venues closed for an extended period or for good.
It’s tough. Everything seems to be going up, food, drinks, insurance and wages. If you don’t have people flowing through it makes it extremely hard.
It’s reflective of right around the country, and the world. People are being a bit more cautious with their spending and travel.
Giant petrel found on WA beach is seventh ‘confirmed or presumed’ bird flu case, chief vet says
A giant petrel found at Mullaloo beach in Perth is being treated as Australia’s seventh positive case for H5N1 bird flu, even though CSIRO tests could not confirm the deadly strain.
Dr Sam Hamilton, Australia’s acting chief vet, said testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed the petrel was infected with H5, but could not be sequenced further. He said:
The inability to obtain a sequence is not unexpected. A range of factors, including the amount of virus in the sample and the sample quality, can affect sequencing, particularly in wildlife samples from deceased animals.
This is the seventh wild migratory seabird in Australia to return a confirmed or presumed positive result for H5 bird flu.
This is the seventh migratory seabird to return a confirmed or presumed positive result, but there have been no confirmed deaths of any wild native birds or detections in poultry.
On Sunday, poultry operations that keep free-range birds were told they could bring their birds indoors.
Anyone seeing sick or dead birds or other animals are asked to avoid contact, take pictures or video, and report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Updated
Former national children’s commissioner Anne Hollands says the Queensland government’s new bail laws amount to “slogan dressed up as policy”.
Premier David Crisafulli announced on Sunday that the state would set a mandatory minimum jail sentence for some children who breach their bail conditions.
Hollands, now a spokesperson for the Justice Reform Initiative said the approach “will push more children into a system we already know increases the likelihood they will offend again”.
She said the government should instead invest in intensive bail support, early intervention and other programs “that stop children entering the justice system in the first place”.
This is a slogan dressed up as policy.
Others have criticised the legislation as not going far enough.
Former cop, now associate professor in criminology at Bond University, Terry Goldsworthy, told 612 ABC radio this morning, said the policy as “just more spin”.
I don’t understand why the government continues to put out these four word slogans. It’s misleading to the public.
If you look at adult time, adult crime, we’re simply seeing results roll out now that don’t reflect what victims of crime are told was going to happen.
He pointed to a case where a youth offender was convicted of running over a woman after stealing her car. Despite 61 prior offences, the child was given a conditional release order.
China’s missile test ‘destabilising’ to region, Wong says
In more comments on the China missile test in the Pacific, the Australian foreign minister, Penny Wong, says Australia has been clear with China that “we regard this as destabilising to the region”.
Australia’s been clear that this proposal, this proposed test, is in the context of a rapid military build up by China, which is lacking in the transparency and reassurance as to intent that the region expects.
Wong said that the test is “inconsistent” with the objective of the Pacific Island Forum leaders that the Pacific is an ocean of peace.
Updated
China informed Australia of missile test plans, acting PM says
Acting prime minister Richard Marles says China has informed Australia it planned to conduct a long-range missile test in the Pacific region, reportedly of a nuclear-capable device with a dummy warhead.
Marles, acting PM while Anthony Albanese is in Fiji, told a press conference today:
We were informed by China today of its intention to do this test.
This is a long range missile test, and we are very concerned about any actions which undermine the stability, the peace and security of the Pacific.
The offices of Albanese, Marles and foreign minister Penny Wong have been contacted for comment.
In a separate press conference, Wong said she would “leave it to China to speak to its intent” but that Australia had been aware of a Chinese task group in the region “for some time”.
Updated
China’s military tested missile launch in ‘designated waters’ of Pacific
China’s military conducted a test launch of a strategic missile from a submarine, with a test missile topped with a dummy warhead landing in “designated waters” of the Pacific, state news agency Xinhua reported on Monday.
Reuters reports that Xinhua said the missile test was a “routine arrangement” of China’s annual military training, with prior notification to relevant countries.
Updated
More on jet fuel derived from used cooking oil
Viva Energy chief executive Scott Wyatt said the recent Middle East turmoil showed how quickly Australia could be squeezed when fuel shipping was disrupted and demand surged, AAP reports.
While Australia got through the crisis “in incredibly good shape”, the scramble to meet demand highlighted the importance of the transition to lower-carbon fuels, Wyatt said.
The transition is an important journey for us, but it’s going to be longer than we would like it to be.
We’re a big believer in renewable fuels being part of that solution and the construction of this tank here at Pinkenba is a small but important part of beginning that journey for us.
Updated
That’s it for me. Josh Taylor will take things from here. Enjoy the rest of the arvo.
Coal is back in AustralianSuper’s portfolio. What happened to that net zero pledge?
Almost six years ago, the country’s biggest superannuation fund announced a major policy update: AustralianSuper’s investment portfolio would be subject to a net zero carbon emissions target in line with the Paris agreement.
To make the point, the fund dumped its holdings in the large thermal and metallurgical coalminer Whitehaven Coal.
Fast forward to 2026 and the $388bn fund manager with 3.7 million members is now the single biggest investor in Whitehaven, which operates six coalmines in New South Wales and Queensland and is developing more.
So what gives?
Aussie shares off to sluggish start to the week
Australia’s share market has begun the week roughly flat, after missing a Friday lead from Wall Street due to the Independence Day long weekend in the US, AAP reports.
The S&P/ASX200 rose 4.8 points by midday, up 0.05% to 8,849.5, as the broader All Ordinaries advanced 6.3 points, or 0.07%, to 9,054.6.
The subdued improvement came after the top-200’s best day in weeks on Friday, supported by a fresh round of buying to kick off the new financial year, which historically has made July the index’s best month.
Energy stocks outperformed, up 1.2% with strong leads from oil and gas giants Santos and Woodside, while refinery operators Ampol and Viva edged either side of break-even.
Rio Tinto and Fortescue both improved, while BHP continued to come off the boil from its recent record-breaking run.
The Australian dollar is buying 69.30 US cents, down from 69.48 US cents on Friday at 5pm.
Updated
Fuel made from cooking oil to be used at Brisbane airport
Jet fuel made from used cooking oil will be used at an Australian airport for the first time, giving wings to new technology without frying the planet, AAP reports.
Brisbane has become the first Australian airport with a dedicated end-to-end pipeline for lower emissions jet fuel. Airlines using Brisbane and some regional Queensland airports will be able to buy sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blended into their regular jet supplies at Viva Energy’s Pinkenba Terminal.
Made from biogenic feedstocks such as used cooking oil, it will be stored, blended, certified and pushed into Brisbane airport’s existing jet fuel system in a set-up designed to look and feel like business as usual for pilots and passengers.
It is the first dedicated end-to-end SAF storage and blending facility directly connected to an Australian airport fuel network and integrated with a carbon credit transfer program, Viva Energy says.
Viva Energy has previously supplied SAF to the Royal Australian Air Force and to Virgin Australia flights from Proserpine, north Queensland.
It is commissioning another SAF blending and storage facility in Victoria.
Updated
Australia and Fiji agree to surprise defence alliance
As we reported earlier in the blog, in a surprise move, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Fiji counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka, elevated Australia’s ties with Fiji to a formal treaty alliance.
After 75 years of Australia only having formal alliances with the United States and New Zealand, the Albanese government has now added two new agreements in less than 12 months, following a deal signed with Papua New Guinea in October.
In Suva on Monday, Albanese and Rabuka signed the Ocean of Peace Alliance, which is open to other Pacific countries to join in the future, paving the way for participation by New Zealand, PNG and Tonga to join.
Albanese said the alliance deal and the newly signed Vuvale Union agreement will transform Australia and Fiji’s relationship and underpin regional prosperity and security.
Read more:
Off limits to Sydneysiders for more than a century, secretive Spectacle Island is coming up for sale
Spectacle Island sits in Sydney Harbour like the setting of an Agatha Christie novel. Abandoned buildings, rotting on the inside, pepper the small landmass. A gun turret sits rusting in the sun. Water snakes make their homes in the overgrown grass. The only humans to walk the old military outpost are a pair of guards who boat in for their shifts, patrolling 24 hours a day.
Sydneysiders are not allowed to roam the island, one of 13 that dot the harbour.
Now, the defence department wants to off-load Spectacle Island as part of a program to sell dozens of historic properties across the country to raise up to $3bn.
So what’s the future hold for the small but precious bit of land? Read more here:
Melbourne teacher receiving end-of-life care after horror head clash during suburban football game
A suburban Melbourne footballer is receiving “end-of-life” care in hospital after a horror head clash saw him fall to the ground and hit his head on a covered cricket pitch, his club says.
High school teacher Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, was taken to Royal Melbourne hospital on Saturday after the incident during an Australian rules football game in Lalor, in Melbourne’s north.
According to his club’s president, Fitzgerald had been playing for Epping when, during a tackle, he clashed heads with another player before receiving a second blow to the head “which could have been from a flailing boot or a knee”.
The club was still coming to terms with the accident, with a statement released a statement on Sunday saying Fitzgerald’s “condition deteriorated overnight and [he] is now receiving end-of-life care”.
Updated
Mexico v England: World Cup 2026 last 16 updates – live
With just about 10 minutes left, we have all the updates on the ongoing England-Mexico World Cup match (officiated by an Australian ref, so we have some skin in the game!).
Follow along here:
Updated
Host behind viral Albanese interview says ‘what is going on?’
Nikki Osborne, the host and comedian behind the interview where Anthony Albanese said he would “shag, marry, date” Kylie Minogue, has responded to the furore – and teased that she has interviews with other prominent politicians coming up.
Albanese apologised “unequivocally” for his comments. Osborne, who conducted the interview in character as “Bushie”, posted comments to her Instagram page about the situation.
“So I’m currently at home with gastro. Missed my flight to Sydney. My phone is blowing up with media requests. I’m just trying to keep food down,” she wrote on her Instagram story.
Sharing a Channel 9 post about Albanese’s apology to her story, she wrote: “What’s going on?”
Last night, Osborne wrote “video response coming” to the interview.
Osborne also said she has been receiving abuse and negative comments after her interview with Albanese. On a clip of the interview with Albanese two days ago, Osborne wrote: “Love him or hate him, this episode is bloody hilarious and a moment in political history because it was a massive risk for him. I was not censored. They didn’t ask for approval of the edit. They just let me in, do the craziest political interview ever, then leave with comedy gold.”
On another post, she wrote: “Wait until you see the next politician Bushie is interviewing!! Gotta keep it balanced right?!”
Updated
Continuing on from last post…
The determination recognises the native title holders’ rights to access and live on their lands, conduct cultural activities and protect their sacred sites.
Native title holder and Central Land Council delegate Graham Long:
Native title holders have been fighting for recognition of native title on Mount Skinner Station to overcome locked gates and allow access to important places for men’s business and sorry business.
We’re living outside, but our sacred sites [are] inside. We can’t do nothing cultural way.
It’s important for us to go and look around, visit our country and take our kids to learn our culture and our foods — like go hunting, camping [and] look around water holes.
Updated
Native title recognition for birthplace of celebrated painter Emily Kame Kngwarreye
Native title rights have been awarded to traditional owners from the birthplace of one of Australia’s most prominent artists, the internationally renowned, late Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
On Tuesday, eight traditional owner groups from the Mount Skinner and Woodgreen stations which sit within Utopia in the Northern Territory, will receive native title consent determination over an area covering more than 4,000 square kilometres.
The sacred ancestral homelands, was where Kngwarreye spent all of her life, often painting her paternal grandfather’s country of Alhalker [Ah-LAL-ka–rah] and the associated dreaming story of kame (pencil yam seed) – after which she was named.
Kngwarreye’s granddaughter Jennifer Purvis says she will carry on her grandmother’s legacy.
She and other native title holders plan to celebrate the determination with traditional ceremonies.
It’s right. You can come look, we can dance for our country.
I draw yam seed dreaming. I draw line ones, sometimes dot painting. We will dance too.
Updated
Space agency says Queensland space balls 'consistent with debris from foreign rocket body'
The Australian Space Agency says it has identified the “likely source” of the six so-called space balls that were found washed up on Queensland beaches in recent days. The agency said in a statement:
The recovered objects appear to be pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle. The Agency has identified the likely source.
The objects’ location and characteristics are consistent with debris from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere from orbit.
The Agency is continuing to engage with international authorities to formally confirm the launch vehicle and launching state.
The space debris were found on beaches in the Forest Beach suburb, north of Townsville.
Dr Alice Gorman, a space archaeologist at Flinders University, told the Guardian yesterday the objects were likely “space balls” from the fuel stage of a rocket.
Updated
PMs questioned on Fiji sovereignty
Fiji’s prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, is asked how Fiji’s long-term sovereignty will be protected under the alliance.
He says Fiji is a member of the United Nations and if anything threatens that sovereignty then there is the Vuvale partnership.
The Australian PM, Anthony Albanese, says this alliance is about elevating the long history of defence cooperation to the highest possible level of alliance.
He said an attack on Fiji would trigger Australia’s full support for Fiji, under the alliance provisions.
On whether other Pacific nations could join in the future, such as Solomon Islands, Albanese says Australia wants to be the security partner of choice in the Pacific but the alliance with Fiji is on a different level.
Updated
PM says agreements with Fiji mark a ‘very significant day’
The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says the two treaties – the Vuvale Union and the Ocean of Peace Alliance – are “one of the most significant endeavours Australia has ever undertaken in our history with any country”.
They reflect our proud history of standing shoulder to shoulder to support each other and our region. We can achieve this level of ambition because we are Vuvale, family, with a relationship grounded
in loyalty, in understanding and mutual respect. In a more uncertain world, we know that we’re stronger when we stand together.
He says the Ocean of Peace Alliance is Fiji’s first, and Australia’s fourth, and we are both stronger because of it.
He says it introduces a mutual defence obligation. The Vuvale Union is a comprehensive treaty that will allow the two nations to work together to combat transnational crime, address health issues like HIV, and address the impact of climate change.
Albanese says he is “humbled” by being appointed an honorary companion of the order of Fiji, and he accepts on behalf of Australia, too.
Fiji welcomes new treaty with Australia
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is holding a press conference with his Fijian counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka in Suva following the signing of a new treaty today.
Rabuka speaks first, and saiys the treaty is a “defining moment” in the Fiji-Australia relationship:
These landmark agreements mark a very significant elevation of our bilateral relationship into a new era of strategic partnership. These instruments formalise a comprehensive and enduring framework, anchored on three central pillars. Deeper security cooperation, enhanced economic enter and resilience, and strengthen people to people connection.
He says Australia has committed to over $180m in new investments since 2023, and now Australia’s development assistance to the Pacific is over $2.2bn.
Rabuka says that it provided renewed emphasis on cooperation in areas including circular labour mobility, transport and logistics, energy transition, digital transformation, cyber security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Victim of Coogee shark attack buoyed by supportive messages during ‘challenging days’
Leah Stewart, the victim of a shark attack at Sydney’s Coogee beach, has had some “challenging days” but is finding “real strength” from the community’s kindness and support, her brother has written on a fundraising page.
Joshua Stewart said Leah has had difficulty sleeping since the incident and has been reading supportive messages during the late hours. He writes:
Leah has had some challenging days but has found real strength from your kindness and support, and wanted to pass on a huge thank you to everyone who has shared her story, sent her uplifting messages and supported her.
Since the incident Leah has had difficulty sleeping, and on those nights she’s been reading back through your messages, not only from her family and community in Australia and her whānau in New Zealand, but also from people all across the world. They’ve given her real comfort and strength.
Leah is beyond overwhelmed at the amazing support she has received and that her story has resonated with so many people. Thank you!
Updated
Queensland premier says new youth crime laws may also apply to adults
Queensland’s premier, David Crisafulli, has revealed the state’s new mooted youth crime laws may also apply to adults.
The government has admitted its youth crime crackdown – badged as “adult crime, adult time” – treats children more harshly than some adults, discriminating on the basis of age and overriding their rights.
Crisafulli announced on Sunday that the government will pass new bail laws by the end of the year, requiring some children who breach bail to serve a mandatory jail sentence. The length of the sentence has yet to be determined, he said.
The premier was asked this morning if the new bail laws would also apply to adults.
“Who it applies to, and those length of periods, all of that will be part of the consultation,” he said.
My laser-like focus is to make sure that that generation of untouchables who have just come through the system and continue to offend, that we target them, so that the answer is yes.
Queensland’s jail system is currently at 135.5% built capacity.
Updated
Australia and Fiji sign new defence alliance
Australia and Fiji have sealed a new defence alliance, marking a major diplomatic win for Anthony Albanese against China for influence in the Pacific, AAP reports.
The prime minister inked Fiji as Australia’s fourth regional ally in a signing ceremony with his counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka, at State House in Suva on Monday.
The Ocean of Peace Alliance and Vuvale Union agreement join the list of deals finalised by the Albanese government with Pacific nations.
Australia has mutual defence pacts with the US, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, called the PukPuk treaty, coming into effect on Wednesday.
The visit to the Pacific comes before Albanese’s meeting with his PNG counterpart, James Marape, the same day the PukPuk comes into effect.
In an attempt to bolster Australia’s key relationships in the region, Albanese will also host the leaders of PNG and Tonga in Brisbane at the final State of Origin game on Wednesday.
Updated
Aged care firm accused in class action of charging residents for high tea
Residents at one of Australia’s largest aged care providers have launched a class action lawsuit alleging fees for services such as high teas and exercise classes were illegally charged to clients who cannot use them due to immobility and other issues.
The suit, filed in the federal court, alleges residents of more than 50 Arcare aged care facilities across four states were charged a daily “additional services fee” by Arcare embedded within a “signature package” between July 2020 and July 2026. This includes fees paid by residents who are immobile, unable to swallow, or cognitively impaired.
The statement of claim alleges that Arcare, a for-profit provider, charged these fees for services, such as meals, that it is already legally obliged to provide, but also for additional services residents could not use.
Arcare has yet to file its response to the court. An Arcare spokesperson said as the matter was currently before the court, “it would not be appropriate to comment on the allegations or the legal proceedings”.
Read more here:
‘Zionist’ claims now more likely to be removed, Meta tells antisemitism inquiry
Meta has cracked down on the use of the word “Zionists”, a representative told the royal commission into antisemitism this morning.
Meta’s platforms include Facebook, Instagram and Threads.
Its global director of core policy, Benjamin Good, told the commission that people were using “Zionist” as a proxy for Jewish people to spread conspiracy theories about them having control over the media, the government and so on. He said:
The dictionary definition [of Zionists] is these are adherents of a political movement, so that wouldn’t traditionally be a protected characteristic.
However, we did a lot of work engaging with groups with expertise in counter-terrorism and cultures around the world, and antisemitism in Jewish issues, and found that many people were using the word Zionist as a coded term in content, in order to evade our enforcement against claims that Jewish people have undue control.
So instead of saying ‘Jewish people do’, they would say ‘Zionists do’. And again, based on all that work, we determine that that was the intent and therefore have prohibited claims such as ‘Zionists control the media’.
Good has also been quizzed on Meta’s 2025 moderation changes, which take a light hand when it comes to factchecking and content removal.
Good said too much content that did not violate their community standards was being removed and that there was a risk of silencing people who are speaking out against hate.
Updated
Anthony Albanese is in Fiji this morning and just downed a bowl of kava
We’ll let you know if we get a report on how the PM is feeling afterwards. Things haven’t always gone well for visiting Australian dignitaries, including Michael McCormack, who drank an entire shell of a much stronger kava drink traditional in Micronesia, which didn’t sit well with him.
We can’t tell from the photos how much he had but guests at a kava ceremony are generally invited to drink the entirety of what is offered to them, in one gulp, if possible
Updated
Trump lobbied Fifa to get Balogun’s suspension overturned
A bit of World Cup news… Trump lobbied Fifa to lift Folarin Balogun’s suspension for the upcoming game against Belgium. Our reporters have more:
Donald Trump lobbied Fifa to lift the US striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban for a red card received in the team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, preceding Sunday’s stunning announcement that he would be available for the cohosts’ last-16 clash against Belgium in Seattle on Monday night.
Sources have told the Guardian that Trump made three calls to Fifa, starting from Wednesday, to ensure that the change was made.
You can read more here:
Ten shops damaged in Melbourne after alleged ram raid arson attack
Melbourne’s tobacco wars have exploded after a suspected ram raid overnight saw another 10 nearby shops engulfed by flames, AAP reports.
Fire Rescue Victoria crews were called to what is believed to be a tobacco shop in Victoria Road, Abbotsford, about 4am on Monday. Crews arrived within three minutes to find the shop, on the edge of Melbourne’s city centre, fully alight. It took 80 firefighters and 25 firefighting trucks to get the blaze under control by 6am.
No one was inside at the time.
Victoria police say unknown offenders drove a vehicle into the business before setting the building alight and fleeing. Crews remain at the scene and are expected to be there for most of Monday morning.
A crime scene is in place and a police investigation into the incident is under way.
Updated
My colleague Josh Butler has a full report into today’s controversy surrounding Anthony Albanese’s podcast appearance. You can read the full debrief here:
Updated
Meta executives to speak at royal commission on antisemitism today
Executives from Meta and Facebook will speak today at a hearing for the royal commission on antisemitism.
Last week, the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said social media platforms had monitored “gore” and “fringe” content, singling out X. She told the inquiry her office had had to fight Elon Musk to try to keep footage of disturbing events off the platform.
Read more here:
Updated
Plibersek backs Albanese: ‘I’m a big fan of Kylie’s as well’
Tanya Plibersek appeared on Sunrise this morning to back the prime minister, too.
She had this to say:
I’m not going to comment on a podcast that I haven’t listened to.
If what the prime minister is saying is he’s a fan of Kylie Minogue, I guess that puts him in a group with millions of other Australians, including me.
I’m a big fan of Kylie’s as well.
Plibersek went on to defend the government’s work to better conditions for women:
What I’d say on women’s equality in this country is no government’s been better for it, and no prime minister’s been better for it.
No government has done more for women’s health … We’re working on women’s equality every single day and we’re delivering on women’s equality every single day.
Updated
Richard Marles defends Albanese’s track record after podcast interview
Richard Marles, the deputy prime minister, defended Albanese’s remarks on the Nova podcast, pointing to his apology while noting the government’s track record on advancing women’s issues.
Marles told RN Breakfast this morning that there were interviews officials engaged in that are of a “different nature” from time to time, adding:
The government that the prime minister leads is the first government in our nation’s history which has had an equality in terms of the numbers of men and women in cabinet. It’s the first government ever to have had a majority of women in the caucus.
I mean, our prime minister is utterly committed to the place of women within our society and the elevation of women within our society. And I think that’s the serious point to observe about the government that he leads.
He’s obviously made an unequivocal apology for what he said.
Updated
Auction clearance rates remain under 50%
Just 49.8% of homes sold at auction last week, according to preliminary data from Cotality.
The figure comprises the clearance rates for the combined capital cities. In Sydney, auctions were successful a touch higher, with a 51.6% clearance rate; in Melbourne, 54.6% sold. But in Brisbane only 23.8% of homes sold at auction, and only 33.3% sold in Perth.
Canberra had a 50% clearance rate and Adelaide 45.7% (Hobart wasn’t listed).
Hundreds of homes across the country were withdrawn from auction, the majority in Sydney and Melbourne, the nation’s two largest markets.
Updated
Albanese issues apology after response to ‘shag, marry or date’ podcast question
Anthony Albanese apologied “unequivocally” after making an off-the-cuff remark on a comedy podcast when asked who he would “shag, marry or date”.
The prime minister was speaking to Nova host Nikki Osborne and was asked to choose between Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman or Rhonda Burchmore.
“I’ve just got married, I’m only six months in,” he said.
When pressed, Albanese said: “Oh, Kylie, clearly.”
“You’d marry Kylie, and shag her and date?” Osborne asked.
“All of the above,” he said.
The prime minister released a short statement this morning about the remarks, saying:
I apologise unequivocally for the comments.
Updated
Albanese to host PNG, Tonga leaders at State of Origin
Anthony Albanese will host the leaders of Papua New Guinea and Tonga at the State of Origin decider in Brisbane on Wednesday night, amid a series of high-level diplomatic engagements this week.
The prime minister will travel to Fiji and Solomon Islands on Monday and Tuesday, then return to Queensland for Wednesday night’s rugby league series decider. NSW and Queensland have won one game apiece, with the third and final game to be held in Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
The Albanese government has elevated the sport of rugby league into a major diplomatic item in the Pacific, including supporting the inclusion of a PNG team in the NRL competition from 2028 with $600m in federal funds. Tonga and PNG have strong histories with rugby league, with a number of players from both countries playing in the NRL.
Wednesday is also the day that Australia’s new mutual defence treaty with PNG comes into force. Albanese will meet PNG and Tonga’s leaders for bilateral meetings, with regional security, trade and economic growth on the agenda.
“This important series of meetings in Brisbane comes at a time where we are working closely with our Pacific family on the issues that matter to our region,” Albanese said.
I am very much looking forward to hosting Pacific leaders in Brisbane on Wednesday and attending the State of Origin with them. Through one of Australia’s favourite sporting codes, we are bringing our Pacific family closer together.
Updated
‘Where will they put those young people?’
The Queensland government is trying to “fix crime with a slogan”, the state’s opposition says.
The shadow youth justice minister, Di Farmer, said detention centres were already at capacity, in “almost constant lockdown”, experiencing staff walk-offs and had seen children lingering in watchhouses.
“The question that needs to be asked of the LNP is: where will they put those young people if they go to detention?” Farmer told press on Sunday.
Today’s announcement is another slogan, without substance, but it is a slogan which could break the Queensland youth justice system.
Updated
Queensland premier unveils 'breach bail, go to jail' slogan
David Crisafulli has vowed to imprison more youth offenders.
In a keynote speech to the Liberal National party’s state conference on Sunday, the Queensland premier said his government would create and legislate a new offence by the end of the year, carrying a mandatory sentence – yet to be set – for repeat offenders who commit serious crimes while on bail.
“Breach bail, go to jail is the next phase of adult crime, adult time, which is holding youth offenders accountable for the first time in a long time,” Crisafulli said.
We’re heading in the right direction and we’ve heard from Queenslanders who are telling us to keep going, and we will with reforms to Labor’s weak bail laws.
But the Youth Advocacy Centre chief executive, Katherine Hayes, said Queensland already had the “harshest youth bail laws in Australia” – a model that became increasingly punitive under the previous government, which introduced a presumption against bail into the Youth Justice Act and made breach of bail a criminal offence.
“Queensland already locks up more kids than anywhere else in Australia – more than Victoria and New South Wales combined,” Hayes said.
This is a further step to make already harsh bail laws harsher.
The Sisters Inside CEO, Debbie Kilroy, said the LNP government had “declared war on children”.
“Queensland is building a youth justice system driven by headlines instead of evidence,” she said.
Updated
Good morning
Good morning and happy Monday. Nick Visser here to start things off this week. Here’s what’s on deck:
The Queensland premier said his government would create and legislate a new offence by the end of the year for youth offenders, carrying a mandatory sentence – yet to be set – for repeat offenders who commit serious crimes while on bail. The premier said
“breach bail, go to jail” is the next phase of adult crime, adult time.
Auction clearance rates were below 50% across the combined capitals for the third week in a row. New data from Cotality shows just 49.8% of homes were sold at auction.
Stick with us.
Updated
