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The Guardian - AU
National
Nino Bucci now, Emily Wind and Martin Farrer earlier

Man dies after trying to drive truck on to NSW ferry; global sea ice levels hit record low – as it happened

Penny Wong Australia Israel Catherine Russell Magnitsky News Corp the West Bank Unicef United Nations
Aerial view of glacier ice floating in the sea
The amount of sea ice floating around the planet as a whole for this time of year has hit a record low, according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

What we learned today, Thursday 25 July

That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here are the day’s main stories:

We will see you back here for more news tomorrow.

Updated

Health ministers agree to public consultation on children’s food

The wheels are turning on some areas of food regulation and policy after state and territory food and health ministers met today in Adelaide chaired by the assistant minister for health, Ged Kearney.

Public consultation will begin in August on commercial foods for infants and young children in order to improve its composition, labelling and texture. Currently, Australia’s infant food labelling’s “health halo effect” risks leaving babies under-nourished.

Ministers are coordinating changes to improve nutrition labelling on both the front and back of packaged foods. They decided there would be a holistic review of the nutrition information panels (NIP) on the back of products as well as preparatory work to inform future decision-making on mandating the front of pack health star rating system.

The work on the health star rating is intended to “facilitate an efficient process” to mandate the system if industry does not meet the voluntary target of 70% of intended products displaying the rating by 2025. At the last food ministers meeting in May they expressed their disappointment that uptake was “significantly off track” with only 32% of products displaying the rating.

However, the ministers said the work on the health star rating would not include a full review of its algorithm despite experts raising concerns the food industry, which was heavily involved in designing it, can game it by adding synthetic fibres, proteins and artificial sweeteners:

Updated

Former coalminer awarded $3.2m for black lung in Australian first

A coalminer who developed black lung due to his employers’ negligence has been awarded a landmark legal victory and a multimillion-dollar payout, AAP reports.

Craig Keogh, a machine operator at NSW and Queensland mines, became the first Australian to win a black lung case at trial, paving the way for other sufferers to make successful compensation claims.

The Dust Diseases Tribunal of NSW found the mines were negligent in exposing Keogh to coal dust because they did not take reasonable care to ensure he was not exposed to avoidable injuries.

Updated

Just a reminder that you can check in on what is coming up at the Olympics later this afternoon (handball and archery, anyone?) over here:

Prison guard unintentionally fired gun during routine check of weapon

A prison guard unintentionally fired their gun during a routine check of the weapon after Masood Zakaria had been loaded into a transport vehicle outside Parramatta court.

A spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW said nobody was injured, and the two inmates were “safely secured in a bullet-proof transport vehicle” when the single shot was fired at a secure loading dock at Parramatta justice precinct.

There was minor damage to a brick wall and CSNSW is conducting a standard incident investigation as per protocol.

Zakaria has pleaded not guilty to a number of charges and is currently on trial.

Updated

Cathay Pacific flight from Sydney delayed for a day after junior pilot allegedly failed alcohol breath test

A Cathay Pacific flight from Sydney to Hong Kong was unable to depart because one of its pilots was suspended by the airline for allegedly failing a pre-departure alcohol breath test.

Flight CX110 had been scheduled to depart Sydney at 7.35am on Wednesday for Hong Kong, but was delayed for more than a day as it was left without sufficient flight crew after the second officer failed to adhere to Cathay Pacific’s alcohol and other drugs policy, the airline alleged in a statement.

The junior pilot’s failed alcohol test was initially reported by Hong Kong newspaper the South China Morning Post, with Cathay Pacific later issuing a statement that it was “aware of the reports and we are maintaining close communication with the relevant authorities”.

“The Second Officer in question has been suspended from flying duties with immediate effect pending a full investigation,” the airline said.

More on this story here:

ANU apologises for $2m in missed payments to casual staff

The Australian National University (ANU) says it has taken “immediate and comprehensive action” and “unreservedly apologised” after an error in timesheet processing meant it underpaid 2,290 staff by about $2m.

In a statement, it said the university had paid $261,000 to some 220 staff for missed payments in the 2023-2024 financial year.

ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell said the university was “deeply sorry” for the error.

ANU apologises to all staff affected by this error and any hardship, challenges and stress this may have caused.

We value all our staff and the vital contribution they make to our operations as a world-class university and are deeply sorry that some staff have been impacted by this error.

ANU is taking immediate and comprehensive action to remedy this situation and to ensure it does not happen again.

The university has voluntarily notified the Fair Work Ombudsman of the error, it said.

Updated

Many thanks for joining me on the blog today, Nino Bucci will be here to take you through the rest of our rolling coverage. Take care.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather update, with damaging winds expected to continue about the south-east of the country:

Updated

Call for ‘battery passport’ for electric cars amid recycling crisis

Australia’s battery recycling industry is in “crisis” and unprepared for an influx of electric vehicles once they reach the end of their lives, a federal inquiry has been told.

As AAP reports, automotive and recycling industry representatives issued the warning today at the Transition to Electric Vehicles inquiry in Sydney, which also heard calls for a “battery passport” for electric cars, similar to efforts in Europe.

Recycling facilities were already struggling with too few collection points and a lack of guidance and standards about battery recycling, Australian Council of Recycling chief executive Suzanne Toumbourou told the inquiry:

The recycling and the waste sectors ... are in a crisis relating to incorrectly disposed-of batteries that cause fires in all types of facilities … We don’t have a sufficient collection system, we don’t have a sufficient extended producer responsibility system for batteries.

The nation needs clear rules on battery labelling, transport and disposal, including a ban on dumping them in landfill, before local facilities could break down and process electric vehicle batteries, Toumbourou said.

All batteries, including EV batteries, must be regulated. These standards must extend to handling, storage, transport and processing for batteries at end of use.

In addition to ramping up recycling efforts, Australia should consider introducing regulations like those in Europe that label batteries and set a target for the recovery of critical minerals from them, the inquiry heard.

Association for the Battery Recycling Industry chief executive, Katharine Hole, said “we’ve got six years to really stand this industry up.”

Updated

Man in NSW dies after attempting to drive truck on to ferry

A man has died in New South Wales after attempting to drive his truck on to a ferry.

Emergency services were called to the Clarence River at Lawrence about 10am, and were told a truck was attempting to board a vehicle ferry before it entered the water.

Members of the public had removed the man from the truck and began CPR before emergency services arrived.

Paramedics attempted CPR, however the man was unable to be revived. He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be a man aged in his 50s.

Officers have established a crime scene and a report will be prepared for the coroner. SafeWork NSW has been notified.

Updated

Race discrimination commissioner welcomes release of multicultural framework review

The race discrimination commissioner has welcomed the release of the multicultural framework review as a “significant step towards the greater recognition of the rights of racially marginalised Australians”.

The multicultural framework review was handed down yesterday and sets out 29 recommendations – one for a review of the citizenship test, including considering offering it in languages other than English.

Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said:

For years, people of racially marginalised backgrounds have been calling for a greater say in the policies that affect them and shape their lives.

We agree that listening to and including the voices of hardly-reached communities in policymaking should be a priority. The Multicultural Framework Review is a necessary first step to help dismantle systemic racist practices that restrict the rights of so many in our country.

​Sivaraman said many of the recommendations are aligned with the commission’s work in developing a national anti-racism framework – set to be delivered to the federal government before the end of the year.

If Australia wants to live up to its dream of being an inclusive society that truly embraces its diversity, we need an embedded national strategy to combatting systemic racism.

Updated

Pilot suspended after failing alcohol breath test before Sydney-Hong Kong flight

Cathay Pacific have confirmed a pilot has been suspended after failing a breath test immediately before he was due to fly from Sydney to Hong Kong this week.

A spokesperson said it was aware of the reports in the South China Morning Post published late yesterday regarding the incident involving a second officer on flight CX110.

The SCMP reported that the incident led to delays of several days for some passengers, after the pilot failed the breath test.

The test requires a blood alcohol concentration below 0.02, the report said.

The spokesperson said:

Cathay Pacific is aware of the reports and we are maintaining close communication with the relevant authorities.

The Second Officer in question has been suspended from flying duties with immediate effect pending a full investigation.

Safety is our overriding priority and we have a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance with our alcohol and other drugs (AOD) policy, which sets out the company’s standards and guidelines on handling any problematic use of alcohol or other drugs. Any individual confirmed to have breached our AOD policy will be summarily dismissed in accordance with our longstanding procedures.

Affected customers were [moved] onto alternative flights leaving Sydney as soon as possible and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Updated

Two men in police custody after pursuit in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

NSW police gave an update to the media just earlier, as two men are in custody after leading police on a chase through Sydney’s eastern suburbs this morning.

Police were called after a member of the public noticed a man with a firearm on the street. Officers have since spoken with residents along George Street and Old South Head Road.

The officer said two loaded firearms were found in a vehicle allegedly associated with the men – a semi-automatic and a revolver – “so we expect serious charges”.

At this stage, we haven’t ascertained why those two males were in that street. [We allege] one of them was out of the vehicle, carrying a firearm that we believe was loaded.

Police said there’s no evidence at this stage that a firearm was actually fired at either George Street or Old South Head Road.

He alleged that both men “violently struggled with police” and the man seen in the street with a gun was wearing a balaclava.

The second [man] was chased for a short period of time and located nearby, so we’re just making sure those areas are thoroughly searched.

Updated

World's floating sea ice hits record low for this time of year

In recent weeks, the amount of sea ice floating in both the Arctic and Antarctica has been close to record lows for this time of year at both poles.

And while neither pole has quite dipped to an all-time record low, this combination looks to have set a record for the least amount of floating sea ice on the planet as a whole for this time of year.

A close look at the data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder, shows there was 21.55 million sq km of sea ice at both poles on 24 July. The previous record low for that date was last year, when there was 21.61 m sq km. No doubt this data will need to be checked and verified by the center.

In the Arctic, sea ice is currently in its melt phase as it heads towards the annual low that happens around September. It is currently tracking well outside the long-term average for the time of year, but isn’t the lowest.

In Antarctica, where the ice is currently growing, the extent is the second lowest on record and very close to last year’s record low which, itself, was a long way outside anything seen before on the satellite record. Antarctica has set record lows for the last three years.

That extreme record of 2023 set scientists scrambling to work out if the huge drops in Antarctica are down to global heating, or an odd combination of natural events. Most wouldn’t rule out a human contribution when I spoke to them last year:

Updated

E-scooter speeds to be investigated by coroner after Melbourne death

How easily can an e-scooter be tampered with to make it go faster? A coroner is grappling with this question as he investigates a rider’s death in Melbourne.

As AAP reports, 28-year-old Moustafa Abou-Eid was travelling 50km/h – more than double the legal e-scooter speed limit – when he hit a speed bump on a Pascoe Vale road and crashed in September 2022.

Speed limiters on e-scooters are supposed to prevent them travelling at more than 25km/h and the current legal limit in Victoria is 20km/h.

Abou-Eid, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the standing platform of the scooter, with his head hitting the bitumen. He died in hospital from injuries sustained in the crash about eight days later on 30 September.

Coroner Paul Lawrie is investigating the circumstances of the crash, Abou-Eid’s scooter riding experience and the design of the Kaabo Mantis 10 Elite e-scooter he was using. That model was capable of travelling up to 60km/h, the coroners court was told.

Lawrie is also examining the design, power output and top speeds of the Kaabo Mantis scooter and similar e-scooters, to look at opportunities to prevent further deaths. This includes an area of “significant interest” around speed-limiting devices.

Whether there was any signs of tampering or bypassing of a speed limiting device with a hope of trying to understand whether or not these provide some sort of robust protection.

Updated

Two pilots dead after helicopter crash in Kimberley

Western Australian police have confirmed that two pilots involved in a helicopter crash in the Kimberley region of Western Australia have died.

Emergency services were responding to the scene of the crash near Mount Anderson Station in Camballin earlier this morning. Early indications suggest the two cattle mustering helicopters collided shortly after take-off.

Both helicopters had one person on board, and both pilots – a 29-year-old man and a 30-year-old man – have died as a result of injuries received during the crash.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified and will conduct a transport safety investigation into the incident, and the WA police force will prepare a report for the coroner.

A number of police and other emergency services remain at the scene.

Labor MPs recognise contributions of Brendan O’Connor and Linda Burney

Labor MPs have been recognising the contributions their colleagues Brendan O’Connor and Linda Burney, who announced their resignation from politics and the cabinet ministry earlier today.

Home affairs minister Clare O’Neil said the duo are “two Labor giants who have served working people with their whole hearts, for their whole lives.”

It has been a privilege to sit around a cabinet table with them both.

Assistant climate change minister Jenny McAllister thanked Burney for her “remarkable contribution to our national life”.

You’ve taken every chance to bring together the personal, cultural and spiritual stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so we can better understand ourselves as a nation.

Your commitment to truth-telling has shone through in every thing you’ve done. And you’ve never shied from speaking about the hard and difficult challenges we need to face together.

Assistant treasurer Stephen Jones said he had worked with O’Connor for more than 20 years:

Principled, hard-working and Labor through and through. Thanks for all your service BOC. You’re a good one.

Updated

Origin Energy confirms second stage of Eraring big battery project in NSW

Origin Energy will go ahead with the second phase of its big battery project on the site of Australia’s largest coal-fired power plant, AAP reports.

Announcing the $450m investment decision, Origin said the combined energy storage of the stage one and stage two batteries at Eraring in NSW would be more than two gigawatt hours, which would help to keep the electricity grid stable.

Origin’s head of energy supply and operations Greg Jarvis said energy storage would play an important role in the changing grid by helping to firm up supply from wind and solar farms and support more renewable energy coming into the system.

Eraring is a strategic site with high quality connection infrastructure. Confirmation of the second stage of the Eraring battery development is a key next step as we look to transform the site.

The second stage of the Eraring battery will be more than four hours’ duration and capable of absorbing excess solar generation during the day to support evening peak demand, he said.

It will add a 240MW battery to the two-hour duration 460MW battery already being built at the site, which is expected to come online by the end of 2025.

Updated

Police respond to helicopter crash in Kimberley

Western Australian police are responding to a helicopter crash in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Police were notified of the crash near Mount Anderson Station in Camballin about 6.20am today.

Early indications suggest two helicopters collided shortly after take-off, and it’s believed both helicopters were solely occupied by a pilot.

Police said the details of those onboard and the extend of their injuries are currently unknown.

Updated

Pilot in good health after aircraft crashed during military exercise in Northern Territory

Defence authorities in the Northern Territory have been giving an update, after a large military exercise in the Northern Territory was suspended after one of the participating aircraft crashed.

They said the pilot involved is in good health “with some scratches [and] some bruises” but an “exceptional story to tell about flying in Australia”.

He said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and “will take some time to work through” – but initial indications show the event may have had something to do with the particular aircraft:

It doesn’t have anything to do with the wider Pitch Black Construct or other aircraft involved in the exercise.

Asked about the pilot’s condition, the defence authority said he flew at “a couple of hundred miles an hour” after ejecting out of the aircraft and parachuting down:

Certainly for our foreign pilots, after the briefs we’ve said about crocodiles, snakes and buffalos, had time thinking in the parachute on the way down. But he hit the ground in good condition and our ability to recover him quickly has got him back into hospital. He stayed overnight for precautionary scans and he should be released from hospital this morning.

He said the Italian Air Force has chosen to resume flying this morning.

Updated

Amnesty calls on Australia to apply greater pressure ‘to end illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories’

Amnesty International Australia says that sanctions against Israeli settlers by the Australian government “must be accompanied by greater pressure to end illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories”.

In a statement, spokesperson Ry Atkinson said:

Any action from the Australian government that will bring pressure to bear on the Israeli government to end its occupation of Palestinian Territories, including the abolition of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, is welcome.

However, for the Australian government to single out just seven individuals and one organisation who’ve committed heinous, violent acts against Palestinians in the West Bank risks the impression that Israeli settlers who have not committed overt acts of violence are legitimate.

Atkinson said that following the ICJ decision last week regarding settlements, the Australian government is now obliged to “take unequivocal action to ensure Israel ends its unlawful occupation in full”.

Updated

Peak body for Australian humanitarian agencies welcomes sanctions on Israeli settlers

The Australian Council for International Development has welcomed the Australian government decision to impose sanctions and travel bans on seven Israelis and one Israeli youth group involved in violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

Acfid, the peak body for Australian humanitarian agencies, said the announcement comes after advice from the international court of justice last week that Israel’s military occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful.

Acfid is calling on the Australian government to “immediately use all diplomatic tools available in its support for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the occupation”.

Updated

Queensland to expand pill testing program to Gold Coast during Schoolies

For the first time, school-leavers on the Gold Coast will be able to test illicit drugs at Schoolies this year.

Health minister Shannon Fentiman has announced the new policy in parliamentary estimates. The state will spend about $80,000 on the temporary clinic, which will be located close to the entertainment precinct in Surfers Paradise.

Queensland opened its first pill testing clinic in March this year at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival. Fentiman also opened two fixed clinics in Bowen Hills and the Gold Coast in April and July.

Fentiman said:

Every year thousands of people die from drug related deaths in Australia and one death is one too many.

We are particularly concerned about the recent data which shows that illicit drug use in young women is increasing.

This additional service is all about empowering Schoolies with the information they need to make to informed decisions that we hope will help to keep them safe.

We know these sites can help people make informed choices, and that’s why the Miles government is investing an additional $80,000 to establish a site for Schoolies.

Updated

CrowdStrike denies Uber Eats vouchers were compensation for outage

CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity company behind last week’s global Microsoft Windows outage, attempted to provide Uber Eats vouchers to the company’s teammates and partners who were helping customers through the massive outage.

Posts online suggested people were receiving around US$10 in Uber Eats vouchers for assisting the company, but a spokesperson confirmed it was flagged as fraud by Uber due to high usage rates.

The company has said it is not being provided direct to customers as compensation for last week’s outage, but did not answer questions about customer compensation.

The faulty update from CrowdStrike that sent millions of systems worldwide into a blue screen error will cost US Fortune 500 companies US$5.4bn, insurers have estimated.

CrowdStrike’s postmortem of the outage this week identified a bug in an update that caused systems to crash that was not picked up before being sent out to systems across the globe. The company said it plans to increase software testing before issuing updates in the future, and only roll out those updates gradually to prevent a repeat of last week.

Updated

Veteran north Queensland Labor MP to retire

Veteran Mackay Labor MP Julieanne Gilbert has announced she will retire at October’s election.

An assistant minister since 2020, Gilbert has held the seat since 2015, after the retirement of Tim Mulherin, the deputy party leader. It was one of just seven seats held by the party at the landslide 2012 election defeat.

Gilbert was a school teacher before entering politics. The 62 year old cited the need for renewal in her decision to step aside, saying it was time for a younger person to take over the seat.

Mackay deputy mayor Belinda Hassan is expected to be in the running as Labor’s replacement candidate.

The north Queensland seat has been held by Labor for all but eight years since 1904. Gilbert held it with a 6.7 point margin in 2020, making it the party’s 17th safest seat.

The press conference has now wrapped up in Sydney, with Anthony Albanese concluding by thanking Brendan O’Connor and Linda Burney once again.

PM asked about tragic accident in which father and daughter were fatally hit by a train

The prime minister is asked about the tragedy at Sydney’s Carlton at the weekend, where after a father and his two-year-old daughter died when a pram rolled into the path of an oncoming train.

The mother has been reliant on her husband’s working visa to stay in Australia, alongside her surviving two-year-old, and there are fears she may be deported. Is there a way she can stay in Australia?

Anthony Albanese responded:

It is a decision, obviously, for the minister, but it’s my view that matters like this should be dealt with with the compassion that Australians would expect.

This mother has watched as her husband and one of her twin children has tragically lost their life and I would have thought that we’re a generous country and that Australians’ hearts will go out towards this woman and her young child.

Updated

Linda Burney says she’s ‘very, very sad’ there is no bipartisan approach to Closing the Gap

Linda Burney has been speaking about Closing the Gap targets. She said it would be “wrong to say that there have not been improvements in most targets”, but noted four are going backwards.

She urged more bipartisan support around achieving progress:

You bring people with you if you want change to happen. That’s how we’re approaching this. It makes me very, very sad that we do not have a bipartisan approach to these issues and I think First Nations people and the Australian people would like to see that change.

Updated

Albanese says sanctions against Israeli settlers and youth group ‘the right thing to do’, rules out recalling Israeli ambassador

Anthony Albanese is now asked about the government’s decision to impose sanctions on seven Israelis and one Israeli youth group involved in violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

You can read Josh Butler’s full report here:

Albanese said sanctions were made because “it’s the right thing to do.”

Settlements in the West Bank are an impediment to a two-state solution. They are illegal under international law and the fact that there has been expansion of settlements over this current period is something that the government has opposed and something that we have directly communicated our opposition to the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu about.

Asked if the ambassador would be recalled, Albanese said “no”, noting that the ambassador to Russia had not been recalled.

Engagement with partners is important … where there are differences of the Australian government with the policies of the Netanyahu government, one of the ways that that can be communicated is by having that presence there as well.

Updated

Should the government move urgently to establish a Makarrata commission? Linda Burney responded:

I have travelled extensively, as you know, over the past two years, and every state and territory, bar one, has either a treaty or a truth-telling or both processes underway. I met with Aboriginal affairs ministers and the community. They believe we are heading in the right direction.

Can I say that for me, the issue of truth-telling is not about a judicial process, it’s about bringing people together and bringing people with you.

Albanese has previously said he is open to a Makarrata commission, as Josh Butler has reported:

Updated

‘Progress doesn’t always move in a straight line’: Burney on voice result

Linda Burney is responding to a question from a reporter about the voice referendum outcome, and said she has “seen a lot [in her time and] progress doesn’t always move in a straight line”.

We make progress and then we have setbacks. That’s the history of Indigenous justice in this country. But with every passing generation, the arc bends a little bit more towards justice.

I have had my bit, and the time for a new generation is now.

The referendum outcome was of course disappointing, but we accept that outcome – but let me tell you, there are some silver linings in that outcome. The silver lining of 6.5 million Australians saying yes. The silver lining of a new generation of young Indigenous leaders coming through, and the silver lining in high Aboriginal [population] communities like the Tiwi islands, like Yuendumu, like Yarrabah, the vote was up to 92%.

So whilst people might think it is a defeat, there is some very good things that came out of the referendum.

Updated

No further reshuffles expected ahead of election, Albanese says

Anthony Albanese is now taking questions from reporters.

Asked about the upcoming cabinet reshuffle, Albanese said there would be “two new ministers and we will make the announcement on Sunday”.

We have caucus processes that will be respected. That’s one of the reasons why we can stand here and make this announcement rather than it being made through a leak on the front pages of the papers.

Albanese said he expects this will be the final change to the ministerial line-up ahead of the election.

Updated

Linda Burney concluded her speech:

I was the first Indigenous person elected to the New South Wales parliament, the first Indigenous woman in the House of Representatives, the first Indigenous woman to be appointed by this wonderful man here to cabinet, but I won’t be the last. To me, that is progress.

It’s time to hand the baton on. It’s been one heck of a journey and I have loved every minute of it. Thank you.

Updated

Linda Burney thanked her colleagues and the prime minister “for your support and your friendship.”

She thanked the people of Barton and her local community in Sydney, and said she will continue to serve you as the local MP until the next federal election.

She also thanked all the staff she has worked with over the past two decades.

‘Time for me to pass on the baton to the next generation’, Linda Burney says

Linda Burney is now speaking to the media. Visibly emotional, she said it is “time for me to pass on the baton to the next generation.”

Stepping back will give me time to do other things including spending more time with family and loved ones.

My entire life has always been about service and I believe I have a valuable contribution to make outside the Parliament in the future.

Burney said she is particularly proud to have made a difference in the lives of Indigenous Australians across the country.

She noted that the voice referendum “didn’t deliver the outcome we had hoped, but I think history will treat it kindly”.

But I know in my heart, I gave all that I could to close the gap and to advance reconciliation.

Updated

Brendan O’Connor gives an emotional thank-you to his family, including his daughter, Una, and partner Stacey.

I have seen governments come and go. Labor and Liberal. This is the most cohesive, united government I have witnessed since I was elected. The way it goes about things, including today, it is orderly, considered … that is how this government operates and I am very proud to be a part of it.

O’Connor said he still has some months to go in parliament and will likely finish up his role next year.

Updated

O’Connor on decision to resign: ‘It’s time to spend more time at home’

Brendan O’Connor is now speaking, following his resignation from politics.

He said that when being elected to office in 2001, he had wanted to serve the federal parliamentary Labor party in the Labor government but “did not contemplate I would have had such a remarkably fortunate career”.

I have been frontbencher for 23 years, and for almost half of that I have been a minister.

I have been a minister for everyday federally when Labor has been in office since the election of the government, and I know I have been very fortunate by anyone’s definition.

I owe that to the constituents of both the electorate of Burke, and for the last seven elections, the constituents of the electorate of Gorton who I had the honour to represent. I am indebted to the Labor party for allowing me to be their candidate.

On his decision to stand down, O’Connor said he wanted to ensure the government “had renewal and regeneration” and to provide opportunities for others to step up.

He added that “we hear this all the time, but it really is about time that I spent more time at home.” O’Connor also noted his achievements in the skills and training portfolio and said he is “leaving a portfolio in pretty good nick for the successor”.

Updated

Anthony Albanese continued:

For Linda [Burney], so much of this work had so much of politics has always been personal. That can mean setbacks and disappointment more deeply felt. It does mean more tears, joy and sadness alike. That passion and that empathy, the true connection that made Linda an inspirational minister as well as a wonderful friend.

We will miss her company around the cabinet table but her friendship – like the friendship of Brendan [O’Connor] – will remain and we will always be grateful for the extraordinary example which these two fine Australians give of why people should enter public life to make a difference.

PM honours Linda Burney’s career as she resigns from politics

Anthony Albanese is now speaking about Linda Burney – the member for Barton and minister for Indigenous Australians.

The PM said that “anyone who has the honour of calling Linda a friend understands the great strength behind her warmth and the courage, that is the essence of her grace”.

The discrimination, hardship and loss she had to overcome in her life is more than most of us can comprehend. Linda was born into an Australia where she was treated as a second-class citizen, and indeed was not recognised. Yet her life is a record of profound firsts.

He noted that Burney was the first Indigenous student to graduate from her teachers college, the first Indigenous person elected to the NSW lower house – where she became deputy Labor leader in NSW – and the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives.

This is remarkable proof that what Linda has drawn from everything she had to endure, it is not bitterness or despair. It is positive, it is one of hope and one of optimism for our nation.

Albanese noted that “in spite of the setback of the referendum last year, [Burney has] continued to advocate for the lives of First Nations people.”

Updated

Albanese thanks Brendan O’Connor for work in skills and training portfolio and as parliamentarian

First, Albanese is speaking about Brendan O’Connor – the member for Gorton and minister for skills and training.

You couldn’t ask for a better colleague and friend than Brendan O’Connor and you won’t find a more decent human being. I deeply respect his judgement, I highly value his advice that I have sought not just in his portfolio but across a range of issues over a long period of time … We met when we were less grey and back in young Labor, almost four decades ago.

The prime minister also noted O’Connor’s achievements in the skills and training portfolio, setting up Jobs and Skills Australia, as well as securing the national skills agreement and reforms to Tafe.

In making skills and training is important as university degrees, he has changed the way that education, lifelong education, is perceived in this country in a way that is so important.

Updated

New ministerial line-up to be announced on Sunday

Anthony Albanese said a new ministry line-up will be announced on Sunday:

Nominations will be called for frontbench positions to be filled in accordance with our caucus rules and I intend to announce a new ministerial lineup on a Sunday in Canberra.

And then for the new ministry to be sworn in, those who are filling new positions will be sworn in on Monday morning.

Brendan O'Connor and Linda Burney resign, step down from ministry

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is speaking to the media from Sydney alongside ministers Brendan O’Connor and Linda Burney.

O’Connor and Burney will not contest the next election, Albanese has announced. They will also step down from the ministry, he said.

I am proud to have witnessed first-hand their passion for this nation, their determination to leave the country better for their contribution as members of Parliament and as ministers.

Updated

Malnourishment rife in Australian residential aged care

Malnourishment is rife in Australian aged care facilities, AAP reports, with nearly four in 10 residents found to have the serious health condition.

A study of more than 700 residents at 10 facilities in NSW, South Australia and Queensland revealed 32% were malnourished and 6% were severely malnourished

The Monash and Griffith University research published in peer-reviewed journal Healthcare called for an urgent screening program as many aged-care providers lack processes to detect the issue.

Lead author Jonathan Foo said malnutrition was a serious health issue associated with a higher risk of falls, infections, hospitalisation and death.

One of the problems we see is that facilities don’t even know who is malnourished in the first place, so they don’t even know where to start.

We believe aged care facilities and the people we speak to on the ground really want to do the right thing. But there’s just not an understanding of what malnutrition looks like, and by the time it’s actually detected, it’s usually too late.

Dr Foo and his colleagues are currently developing an automated malnutrition screening program that uses data that’s already been collected in an effort to reduce the burden on facilities and workers.

Australian billionaires have increased wealth by 70.5% since 2020: Oxfam

The richest 1% have amassed $42tn in new wealth over the past decade, nearly 34 times more than the entire bottom 50% of the worlds population, according to new analysis from Oxfam.

Here in Australia, billionaires have increased their wealth by 70.5% or $120bn since 2020.

Newly released YouGov polling, commissioned by Oxfam, shows that 76% of Australians are concerned about the growing wealth gap between the ultra-rich and everyday people. 74% support a wealth tax of people with wealth of over $50m, according to the polling, while 63% support wealth tax proceeds being used to reduce inequality.

The average wealth per person in the top 1% globally rose by nearly $400,000 in real terms over the last decade, compared to just $355 – less than nine cents a day – for a person in the bottom half.

The data was released ahead of the third meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Oxfam Australia’s chief executive officer, Lyn Morgain, said:

Inequality in Australia and across the globe has reached obscene levels, and until now governments have failed to protect people and planet from its catastrophic effects …

Momentum to increase taxes on the super-rich is undeniable, and this week is the first real litmus test for G20 governments. Do they have the political will to strike a global standard that puts the needs of the many before the greed of an elite few?

Updated

AFP says ‘no lives will be put at risk’ as federal police union proposes industrial action

The Australian federal police has released a statement as the union – the Australian Federal Police Association – is proposing to undertake action during bargaining for a new enterprise agreement.

The AFP statement says:

While the AFP has not received formal notification of such actions to date, the AFP wants to be very clear: The AFP will vigorously object to any action that jeopardises the safety and protection of high office holders, parliamentarians or designated airports.

At no time will the life of any high office holder, politician or member of the public be put at risk because of any proposed action by the AFPA.

The AFP makes no apologies for protecting Australia’s democracy and the location and lives of those whom we dutifully protect.

While the AFP has supported the right of AFPA members to take industrial action, where allowed under the law, it will not support any action that threatens national security, risks community safety or undermines confidence in the ability of the AFP to do its job.

Updated

Shipwreck mystery solved decades after deadly disaster

The wreck of a ship that sank in one of Australia’s worst peacetime maritime disasters has been discovered more than five decades after the vessel went down, AAP reports.

The motor vessel Noongah went under in heavy seas off the coast of NSW while carrying steel from Newcastle to Townsville in August 1969. Only five members of the 26 crew survived after their cohort were rescued from life rafts by vessels responding to the ship’s distress call. A single body was recovered from those lost at sea.

Researchers have discovered the 71m coastal freighter’s wreck, mapping the ship’s underwater location off the NSW coast between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour in June. CSIRO voyage manager Margot Hind said the wreck’s dimensions and profile matched the Noongah.

Samir Alhafith with The Sydney Project – a group of shipwreck explorers who partnered in the search – said:

Not only is the discovery of these significant wrecks important for the surviving sailors and families of those that perished during the tragedy but also it allows us to investigate the mystery behind the sinking.

Heritage NSW assessments director Tim Smith said he hoped the discovery brought closure to the crew’s surviving family. Family members and descendants of the Noongah’s crew can contact the CSIRO for further details about its investigation.

Albanese to speak amid reports of ministerial reshuffle

Anthony Albanese is due to give a press conference within the hour.

As Josh Butler reported yesterday, there have been rumours of a ministerial reshuffle circulating Canberra. (You can read more about that here).

The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, was asked about this on ABC RN earlier this morning – specifically on whether he is expecting the retirements of senior Labor ministers Linda Burney and Brendan O’Connor.

Marles said it was a “matter for those ministers” and he would not pre-empt any decisions. Asked about any potential ministerial shake-up, Marles said this was a matter for the prime minister.

Marles was acting prime minister yesterday while Albanese was leave, so when pressed for an answer, he said:

If I was about to engage in the reshuffle while I was the acting prime minister and the boss was on leave, I don’t think I would be winning friends or influencing people …

I’ll leave those matters to the prime minister and you know, the decisions of any minister about their own future is a decision that they need to take. It’s their voice that should be heard and respected.

Updated

Greens MP slams US Congress for giving Netanyahu standing ovation

Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather has slammed the US Congress for giving the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a standing ovation during a speech, where he called for “total victory” in the war and told congress, “our fight is your fight”.

In a post to X, Chandler-Mather said the standing ovation is a “reminder that the entire US establishment enthusiastically supports the massacre in Gaza”.

Yet Labor wants to tie [Australia] to the hip of the United States.

Iraq, Afghanistan and now Gaza. How many times does the United States have to lurch into/back murderous, destructive invasions that cause unimaginable harm, before Labor and the Liberals decide to stop acting as lackeys for US foreign policy … It makes the world less safe and leaves a dark moral stain on our country.

At the US congress there wasn’t unanimous support for Netanyahu. Democratic representative Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian American in Congress, held up a sign accusing him of genocide during the speech.

Axios reported that about half of the Democrats elected to the House and Senate opted to skip the speech. Meanwhile, NBC reports that the Democrat house leader did not shake his hand, and vice president Kamala Harris did not attend the speech.

Updated

Further rate rise ‘cannot be justified’, economists warn

A further rise in interest rates would put Australia’s economic recovery at risk and wipe out the benefits of tax cuts and real wage gains, economists have argued as key decisions loom.

As AAP reports, June quarter inflation data – due to be released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics next week – represents a fork in the road for policymakers.

A benign readout could lead to the Reserve Bank board holding rates steady again when it meets in August, but an upside inflation surprise could force its hand to lift rates again, the economists said in their quarterly Business Outlook report.

Continue reading:

Will Katy Perry’s AFL grand final appearance be a Super Bowl moment, or jump the (left) shark?

Looking back at previous Katy Perry performances, it’s hard to forget about the iconic Left Shark.

For those who somehow missed this huge cultural moment, Left Shark was a backup dancer wearing a life-sized shark costume during Perry’s Super Bowl appearance in 2015.

Left Shark went viral instantly as it appeared to completely forget the choreography – but was totally adored for it. It’s safe to say this is one of the most memorable half-time moments in recent memory:

Perry’s performance in Australia comes as her latest single, Woman’s World, has faced widespread scathing reviews. Rolling Stone labelled it as a “catastrophic flop” and the “worst comeback song of all time”, while Guardian reviewer Laura Snapes said the single made her “feel stupider every sorry time I listened to it”.

The single was released on 11 July, and does not appear to be charting on the Aria top 50.

You can have a read of the Guardian’s review in its entirety below:

Updated

Katy Perry to perform at AFL grand final

American superstar Katy Perry will headline this year’s AFL grand final at the MCG.

Perry, best known for chart toppers like Roar, Teenage Dream, Firework and Dark Horse, said she was “so excited to be back in Australia and back at the mighty MCG to perform in front of 100,000 of the best and loudest fans in the world”.

She has performed at the 2015 NFL Super Bowl and 2020 Women’s World Cup. AFL executive general manager of customer and commercial, Kylie Rogers, said:

Katy Perry is an international music icon who has been entertaining fans with her chart-topping hits for many years, so the AFL is delighted to have her join us at the 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final in what will be a spectacular Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment performance.

Updated

Queensland Fire Department warns bushfire season ‘almost upon us’

Although we’re still in the midst of winter, the Queensland Fire Department says the bushfire season is “almost upon us”.

In a post to X, the department said it is “already seeing grassfires break out in several areas,” reminding communities to stay up-to-date and prepared.

Updated

Sports minister in Paris, having talks about upcoming 2032 Brisbane Olympics

The sports minister, Anika Wells, spoke with the Today show earlier from Paris, and fielded some questions about the Brisbane Olympics.

Asked about infrastructure and future planning for the 2032 games, Wells responded:

There’s obviously absolute merit to building world class stadiums for the games. It’s always just a question of what taxpayers will bear with respect to the cost burden on them.

Sometimes that comes off beautifully … Paris only built two new venues for these games – I think it was the aquatics and the climbing. But then if you look at what happened in Rio or Athens, I met with the Brazilian sports minister about how they’re still dealing with the legacy that Rio left for them.

So it can go either way and I think, of course we want world class venues, but at what price are we prepared to pay for it as a country?

Updated

Decision looms in landmark Roundup class action

Hundreds of Australians will soon learn whether their cancer could have been caused by a widely-used weed killer, AAP reports.

In the federal court today, Justice Michael Lee will hand down a judgment in the class action against popular herbicide Roundup.

The case claims Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate caused the cancer of more than 800 Australian non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients. It’s alleged glyphosate is a carcinogen to humans and exposure to the ingredient increases the risk of developing cancer.

The case was launched by Maurice Blackburn lawyers in the federal court against Monsanto, which produced Roundup. Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018. Bayer has previously stated glyphosate-based herbicides have been rigorously tested in hundreds of studies and the science confirms glyphosate is safe when used as directed.

Justice Lee is due to rule today whether glyphosate is carcinogenic and capable of causing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in humans.

The court is yet to consider lead applicant Kelvin McNickle’s individual claim Roundup caused his cancer. The 40-year-old Queensland man allegedly used the herbicide as a child while spraying weeds with his father and at work as an adult before being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2018.

Updated

Refugee council welcomes findings of multicultural framework review

Just circling back to the multicultural framework review: the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed the findings and recommendations as a “generational reform agenda that requires a whole-of-government and community approach”.

The review made a set of 29 recommendations, calling for ten of them to be actioned immediately. As we mentioned earlier, one recommendation is for a review of the citizenship test, including considering offering it in languages other than English.

The RCOA chief executive officer, Paul Power, said:

In too many cases, we see families divided between those who are able to pass the citizenship and those who cannot. Instead of penalising those with low English proficiency, we should strive to encourage all individuals to become citizens and contribute to Australian society.

We urge the government to implement the panel’s recommendation for a comprehensive review of the citizenship test.

Updated

Government still ‘working with communities’ on implementing Islamophobia envoy, Marles says

Richard Marles was also asked about any progress on implement a special envoy on Islamophobia, following the announcement of a special envoy on antisemitism earlier this month.

Marles said “we’re working with communities around that role”. Asked how long it will take, he didn’t put a timeline on it because “we’re not gonna set somebody up to fail.”

We need to be making sure that we have a person who is in a position to do the job that we’ve asked them to do, and that is to be an envoy in combating Islamophobia.

Updated

Albanese government supports ‘principles’ of multicultural framework review, Marles says

The deputy prime minister was also asked about the recommendations of the multicultural framework review (we flagged this in yesterday’s blog), including reforms to the citizenship test.

The recommendations is:

The department of home affairs, through government and non-government consultation, to action an immediate review of the Australian citizenship test procedures, including considering providing the test in languages other than English and in alternative and more accessible formats.

Asked if the government would support this, Richard Marles told ABC RN the government supports the “principles” of the review “around the identity of our communities, their connection to Australia, their inclusion within our society”.

What the review observes is that as a country, half of our population are either born overseas or have a parent who were born overseas … What this report affirms is that what we have done as a nation and what we need to continue to do is to embrace the idea of multiculturalism …

The most Australian thing that we can see happen is for communities to celebrate their heritage, and it’s actually a very uniquely Australian perspective on how multiculturalism should work.

Updated

Marles demurs on reports Australia to take over Red Sea task force command

Q: Defence sources say authorisation has been given for Australia to take over from Italy in leading the combined task force in the Red Sea. Can you confirm that?

Marles said the decision about command structure is “ultimately a decision beyond Australia” involving multiple nations:

I’m not in a position to be able to answer those questions now, other than to say we are active participants.

Asked if Australia would be prepared to say yes, Marles said he couldn’t get into hypotheticals as “there is a process under way here”.

Updated

Marles says world must impose ‘as much pressure as possible’ to end war in Gaza

Turning to international news, Richard Marles was asked about comments from US president Joe Biden that he would like to bring the war in Gaza to an end before he leaves office.

Responding to this, Marles said Australia supports Biden’s efforts and “affirm his hope and the peace plan … to bring a ceasefire into place.”

What we’re seeing in Gaza is absolutely catastrophic. I think that the images that we are seeing on our TVs every night is utterly heartbreaking, and we need to see an end to this and that’s where our diplomatic efforts are involved.

We very much support the efforts of president Biden in relation to this, but the world has to be imposing as much pressure as possible on the participants to end this.

Asked if Australia could be louder in its opposition to the conflict, Marles said: “I think we are exercising extremely loudly to bring an end to this conflict.”

Updated

Military exercise in Northern Territory expected to resume today after aircraft crash

Deputy prime minister Richard Marles is now speaking with ABC RN, asked about the decision to suspend a large military exercise in the Northern Territory after one of the participating aircraft crashed.

Marles said the pilot ejected and was recovered safely, spending the night in hospital and will hopefully be released today.

He’s he sustained minor injuries … but he’s fundamentally OK, so that’s good news in terms of the safety of those involved.

He said the exercise itself is the biggest the air force conducts every two years, and while it was paused yesterday he anticipates it will begin again today.

Updated

Q: Why target the individuals when it’s state policy?

Penny Wong said the Australian government has been “clear in terms of state-to-state relations about our view on settlements”.

They are unlawful under international law. We’ve been clear about that … We have also said that we want to continue to take steps towards a two-state solution.

That may not be the view of some people in the Israeli government, but that is the view of the Australian government.

In terms of whether Wong thinks this will make a practical difference, Wong said Israel has had “a lot of support in the international community” and “should recognise the importance of its standing and legitimacy in the international community”.

Updated

Wong speaks about sanctions against Israelis involved in West Bank settler violence

Penny Wong also spoke about the sanctions against seven Israelis and one Israeli youth group involved in violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. Josh Butler reported on this earlier in the blog.

She told ABC AM the sanctions were taken after “careful consideration”, marking a “substantial penalty”:

These individuals have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians, including things such as beating, sexual assault and torture, resulting in serious injury and in some cases death.

We have imposed these after careful consideration and we would expect that all Australians would recognise the weight of these.

Wong said the Australian government spoke with its Israeli counterparts about this action, and noted Australia is not the only country placing sanctions on these individuals and the entity.

Whether Australia is expecting any pushback, Wong said this is a matter for Israel.

Settlements are unlawful under international law. We are continuing to act in ways that we can to look to how we protect a pathway to a two-state solution, and part of that is to ensure we also impose penalties who perpetrate violence against Palestinians.

Updated

‘We consider the situation in Gaza now is catastrophic’: Penny Wong

Foreign minister Penny Wong has been speaking with ABC AM this morning about the situation in Gaza, saying that it is “now catastrophic”.

She said:

We consider that the situation in Gaza now is catastrophic, and we really, we are deeply, deeply worried and distressed by what we are seeing happening in Gaza, in relation to the humanitarian situation.

As we flagged earlier, there are reports of poliovirus cases being discovered in Gaza. Wong said this goes to the “catastrophic humanitarian situation that we are seeing”.

We condemn Hamas. We have been clear in terms of our actions and our words that we find Hamas repugnant. We also know there are civilians in Gaza – men, women and children – who are suffering and the fact that in this century we have polio found in the traces of wastewater is extremely, extremely disturbing.

Updated

Landmark items returned to Indigenous community from US

Culturally significant tools and other objects are returning to Warumungu Country in the Northern Territory from a museum in the United States, AAP reports.

Among the 20 objects being returned from the Fowler Museum at the University of California are a marttan (knife), murkutu (sheath), ngurrlumuru (fighting pick), kupija (adze) and wartilykirri (hooked ‘number seven’ boomerang).

Warumungu man Cliff Plummer Jabarula (Jupurula) told AAP he was honoured to be part of the repatriation:

It’s really good that they come back home because they belong to our people. My great-grandfather would have witnessed these things being sent away so I’m pretty pleased that I’m a part of bringing them home.

William Ah Kit Jakamarra said stories from older Warumungu people suggest the objects had been taken from country when work began on the Stuart Highway, which runs through the Northern Territory.

Ah Kit Jakamarra and Plummer Jabarula travelled to the US as representatives of the Warumungu community for the formal handover of the artefacts.

The objects will be temporarily held at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra, but once returned to Warumungu Country, they will be on display at the Nyinkka Nyunyu Arts and Culture Centre in Tennant Creek.

Updated

Good morning

And hello – many thanks to Martin for kicking things off. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be with you on the blog today.

As always, you can get in touch with any thoughts, tips or questions via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.

Let’s get started.

Sydney motorists warned over possible airport link confusion

A new road connecting Sydney airport to the city’s motorway network will open soon, but the state government is urging motorists to study its road signage to avoid a repeat of the traffic nightmare that occurred when the Rozelle interchange opened last year.

The Sydney Gateway, which was first announced about ten years ago as the plans for what would become the controversial Westconnex project were developed, will officially open on 1 September, connecting the airport at Mascot to the M8 and St Peter’s interchange and other major roads.

While the gateway – which is made up of 5km of new roads – is toll-free, it connects drivers to much of Sydney’s tolled motorway network. It is expected to save as much as 17 minutes from a trip between the airport and the St Peters interchange.

It is also expected to divert about 10,000 trucks from suburban streets each day as they travel between Port Botany and the airport.

Following the sustained peak traffic that formed following the opening of the Rozelle interchange last year, the New South Wales government has begun testing signage and road markings for the gateway in advance, to mitigate congestion upon opening. This testing has led to 100 changes being made.

On Wednesday, as well as announcing the opening date, the government also released virtual drive-through animations of the gateway so that motorists can familiarise themselves with the new roads.

John Graham, the New South Wales roads minister, said “for anyone who has sat in traffic around Mascot as the minutes to a flight tick down, this will be a welcome piece of toll-free motorway, while the local community will see fewer trucks on their streets”.

Updated

MIlitary exercise suspended after plane crashes in NT

A large military exercise in the Northern Territory has been suspended after one of the participating aircraft crashed. The pilot ejected from the aircraft and is “safe and well”, according to Australian defence officials.

A defence ministry spokesperson said in a statement issued yesterday afternoon:

Defence can confirm an international participant in Exercise Pitch Black 24 is safe and well after ejecting from their aircraft this morning during flying operations.

Australian Defence Force personnel responded immediately and professionally at 10:45am to an aircraft emergency in the exercise area and coordinated recovery of the pilot with a search and rescue helicopter.

The exercise participant made immediate contact with aircrew in the area via radio following their ejection.

The pilot arrived at hospital by helicopter around 1:30pm (local time).

All flying for the remainder of the day has been cancelled.

News Corp cited social media report as saying it was an Italian aircraft, but Defence has yet to confirm the country.

Updated

Poliovirus discovery adding to Gaza’s status among ‘most dangerous places to be a child’, Unicef chief says

The “incredibly alarming” discovery of the poliovirus in Gaza only adds to the besieged territory’s status as one of “the most dangerous places to be a child right now”, the head of the UN children’s agency has warned.

The executive director of Unicef, Catherine Russell, said during a visit to Australia that Gaza was increasingly lawless.

As the Israeli military offensive continued, humanitarian workers were “risking their lives every day” to help Palestinian civilians.

In her only Australian interview, Russell raised alarm about the impact of conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine. She also said youth in low-lying Pacific island countries were “impatient with the world” for failing to act on the climate crisis.

Read more in our exclusive interview:

Updated

Penny Wong imposes sanctions on Israelis over West Bank settler violence

Seven Israelis and one Israeli youth group involved in violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have been hit with financial sanctions and travel bans by the Australian government, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, has announced.

Wong’s office released a statement early this morning on the imposition of Magnitsky-style sanctions over their “involvement in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”. Wong said in the statement:

The individuals sanctioned today have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians. This includes beatings, sexual assault and torture of Palestinians resulting in serious injury and in some cases, death. The entity sanctioned is a youth group that is responsible for inciting and perpetrating violence against Palestinian communities.

We call on Israel to hold perpetrators of settler violence to account and to cease its ongoing settlement activity, which only inflames tensions and further undermines stability and prospects for a two-state solution.

We’ll bring you more details of the sanctions when they are to hand. We’re expecting to hear more from Wong this morning.

Her statement continued:

The Albanese Government has been firm and consistent that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace.

Australia will continue to work for a just and enduring peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Our foreign affairs correspondent Daniel Hurst reported just this week that the government was not ruling out sanctions on Israeli settlers:

Updated

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and these are the top stories before my colleague Emily Wind picks up the baton.

The poliovirus has been discovered in Gaza adding to the perils facing children in the besieged territory, the head of the UN children’s agency has warned in an exclusive interview. The executive director of Unicef, Catherine Russell, said during a visit to Australia that youth in low-lying Pacific island countries were “impatient with the world” for failing to act on the climate crisis. More coming up on here.

Some of News Corp’s most experienced journalists have been made redundant amid significant cuts to the national reporting team as well as the Herald Sun and Daily Telegraph newspapers, it emerged last night. National health reporter, Sue Dunlevy, who has clocked up 36 years with the company, is among the redundancies. So too are the former Europe correspondent Charles Miranda, national investigations editor Ben Butler and investigative reporter Natalie O’Brien.

The Tokyo gold medal-winning paddler, Jess Fox, and Kookaburras veteran Eddie Ockenden have been chosen to carry the Australian flag at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony tomorrow, the chef de mission, Anna Meares, announced last night. And although the Games don’t officially start until tomorrow, some competitions have begun, with Australia’s men’s rugby sevens team beating Samoa in their opening game.

In other news, a military exercise in the NT is expected to resume after it was put on pause yesterday because of an aircraft crash. Sydney motorists have been asked to read road signs in an attempt not to repeat Rozelle interchange-like traffic chaos when a new road to the airport opens. And the federal court is due to rule today on a class action against the widely used weed killer Roundup.

And this morning, Penny Wong has announced Magnitsky-style financial sanctions and travel bans on seven Israeli individuals for involvement in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. More on that soon.

Updated

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