Australia politics live: Alex Antic cites ‘dream team’ of Abbott, Canavan and Taylor as inspiration for bid to lead SA Liberals
From 46m ago 02.08 BST Alex Antic to nominate for SA Liberal presidency, inspired by Taylor-Canavan-Abbott ‘dream team’ Dan Jervis-Bardy The hard-right Liberal senator Alex
From 46m ago 02.08 BST Alex Antic to nominate for SA Liberal presidency, inspired by Taylor-Canavan-Abbott ‘dream team’ Dan Jervis-Bardy The hard-right Liberal senator Alex Antic will nominate to become the party’s South Australian state president, drawing inspiration from the “dream team” leading the federal team. After years building and exerting influence in the party’s rank-and-file, Antic confirmed his candidacy for the president’s position in a message to supporters. The message, seen by Guardian Australia, reads: double quotation mark In recent months, we have seen encouraging green shoots at the federal level with the emergence of a strong leadership team featuring Angus Taylor and Senator Matt Canavan, further bolstered by the election of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott as President of the Federal Liberal Division. This is, without doubt, a dream team – and it has inspired me to announce my candidacy for President of the South Australian Division. The tilt at the state Liberal presidency would seemingly end speculation that Antic could defect to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. Antic talked up his record in Canberra fighting against “Labor’s economic failures, cultural radicalism, and assaults on our freedom”. He said the results of the March South Australia election – where the Liberals were reduced to just five lower house seats – showed the party must return to Menzies tradition of “liberty and resolute opposition to socialism, or risk continued decline”. Antic urged supporters to turn out to local branch AGMs (annual general meetings) to ensure he had the numbers to secure the presidency at the party’s state council. He also encouraged backers to join the Liberal women’s council to help thwart a “serious challenge” from the party’s moderate wing. double quotation mark Over recent years, the LWC (Liberal Women’s Council) has been a courageous and vital choice for Liberal women, fearlessly championing pro-life issues, fairness for women in sport, and many other critical matters affecting Australians. Share Updated at 02.20 BST 3m ago 02.52 BST Almost three quarters of Australian businesses impacted by fuel shortages, ABS finds In perhaps not entirely surprising news, data released on Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals that fuel prices and supply availability have negatively impacted 72% of Australian businesses. Tom Lay, ABS head of business statistics, said: double quotation mark Today’s data from the Survey of Business Conditions and Sentiments, brought back earlier this month, helps us better understand the economic impacts of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Australian businesses. One in six businesses experienced disruptions in their supply chain, with transport, logistics, agriculture and small businesses among those most affected. The ABS also found that 36% of businesses reported revenue had dropped over the past four weeks, while 27% expect revenue to fall over the next four weeks. Share 12m ago 02.43 BST Need for First Nations voice has 'not diminished', key figures say on ninth anniversary of Uluru statement from the heart Sarah Collard Today marks the ninth anniversary of the Uluru statement from the heart, out of which arose the calls for voice, truth and treaty, with the referendum for an enshrined voice to parliament being defeated in 2023 vote, its leading voices are continuing to urge action – warning that inequities and inequalities are worsening. “What has become increasingly clear since the Referendum is that the problems and issues facing communities have not disappeared but are further entrenched and, in some respects, have become drastically worse,” a statement from Uluru dialogues co-chairs, UNSW Scientia Prof Megan Davis and Pat Anderson AO outlines. double quotation mark The Closing the Gap reports show no progress. Governments continue to announce policies, reviews, inquiries, and programs without proper consultation with communities. Incorporated entities are not the same as individuals living in community and representing community, being chosen by their communities to represent their voices. View image in fullscreen Prof Megan Davis and Pat Anderson, co-chairs of the Uluru Dialogues Photograph: Dean Sewell/Oculi The pair in a joint statement said the Uluru statement from the heart was offered as an “olive branch to the Australian people to move forward as a nation together for a better future.” It said its core mandate for self-determination and reform remains urgent and relevant. double quotation mark The Referendum result was a political loss. Political loss is a normal part of political contestation. And alongside the 6.2 million Yes voters, we continue on in our advocacy for constitutional recognition. Let us be very clear, the need for a Voice has not diminished. If anything, the failures of the current systems have made the case for reform even stronger. Davis and Anderson write that there is an “exhaustion” being felt across the nation and argue that Australians are tired of the “same mistakes” repeated due to a lack of political change and leadership. double quotation mark The exhaustion felt across the nation right now regarding Aboriginal Affairs is undeniable. People are tired of watching governments repeat the same mistakes while expecting communities to carry the burden of broken systems. They are tired of the Federal Government hiding behind the Closing the Gap agreement – which is not legally binding – and federalism to avoid showing the leadership demanded of them by the Australian people in the 1967 referendum. On the ninth anniversary of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, we reiterate that communities must have a guaranteed and direct say in decisions that impact their lives. Share Updated at 02.54 BST 18m ago 02.37 BST Lisa Cox EV sales surge climate and environment officials tell estimates Sales of electric vehicles have roughly tripled since 2022, climate and energy officials have told a senate estimates hearing, with a surge in sales in recent months driven partly by the impact of the Middle East conflict on fuel prices. The department said EVs accounted for 3.8% of all light vehicle sales in 2022, growing to 8.4% in 2023, 9.6% in 2024 and 13.1% in 2025. In 2026, up to the month of April, EVs accounted for 21.1% of car sales. Officials said the surge in interest was driven partly by people switching to EVs amid increased fuel costs, as well as improved EV pricing and better charging infrastructure availability.
The Greens leader Larissa Waters asked whether the government had calculated the potential impacts on fuel consumption from its decision to phase out the fringe benefits tax waiver on EVs and replace it with a discount in coming years, a move expected to save the budget $1.7 bn. Officials said they had not as this would require “quite complex modeling and assuming what a hypothetical business case would have been for that policy and what that might have done to consumers”. Waters said: double quotation mark I’m concerned that no one looked at the fuel consumption impacts of cutting $1.7 billion from the EV support program. Why on earth not? We’re in a fuel crisis. The department said it expected reduced fuel consumption to continue as EV growth accelerated regardless of changes to the tax arrangements. Industry, innovation and science minister Tim Ayres said “the behaviour in the market is already happening…People are buying electric vehicles because it’s cheaper to buy electric vehicles”. Share 20m ago 02.34 BST Tory Shepherd New search for missing boy in outback South Australia A new search for four-year-old Gus Lamont, who went missing in outback South Australia in September last year, has started today. SA police said in a statement that Task Force Horizon members would search the family’s sheep station over the next three days. According to the statement: double quotation mark The searching has resumed to take advantage of opportunities that may have arisen as a result of recent heavy rains on the property. For months, Gus was considered missing, but in February police declared his disappearance a major crime and said they had a suspect, and that it was someone who lived with Gus. Major crime detectives and specialist Star Group officers will carry out the search. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers online or on 1800 333 000. Share 24m ago 02.30 BST We have Dan Tehan hitting back on Chris Bowen hitting back on travel expenses. For those who have missed this particular brouhaha, Tehan claimed Bowen spent too much in his role as the Cop climate summit president of negotiations. Bowen responded by criticising Tehan’s travel as tourism and trade minister. Here’s what Tehan said on Sky a short time ago: double quotation mark The RAAF dictated where those flight plans went, and we had to stay a night coming back because we had to give crew rest, right? One night crew rest, so you know, I’m happy to go toe to toe… with all this stuff, because I can actually point to real outcomes. Share 35m ago 02.20 BST Lots of news about the energy grid around today. Speaking of which, here’s a coal power station being blown up just now Share 39m ago 02.15 BST Sarah Collard Federal government announces $2.6m in additional funding for Stolen Generations survivors and organisations Today marks Sorry Day commemorations, which honours the tens of thousands of Aboriginal children forcibly removed from their families through government policies from 1910 up until the 1970s. Stolen Generations survivors’ peak body, the Healing Foundation will receive up to an additional $1m to support its work with survivors and descendants, including community-led and trauma-informed programs. The government also slated up to $1.6m in funding for up to eight Link-Up services across the country, which provide family contact tracing and connection support for survivors and their families. Minister for Indigenous Australians, senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the additional funding aims to address the unfinished work of the landmark national inquiry and the 1997 Bringing Them Home report. double quotation mark On this Sorry Day, we reflect on the pain and harm caused to Stolen Generations by past policies of forced removal. The Healing Foundation and Link-Up services continue to play a critical role in supporting Stolen Generations survivors and their families. This investment recognises that next year marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Bringing Them Home report and will underpin a range of community-led programs to support the healing of our Stolen Generations. Earlier this year, the government committed $87m over four years to support individual and collective healing for Stolen Generations survivors. Share 46m ago 02.08 BST Alex Antic to nominate for SA Liberal presidency, inspired by Taylor-Canavan-Abbott ‘dream team’ Dan Jervis-Bardy The hard-right Liberal senator Alex Antic will nominate to become the party’s South Australian state president, drawing inspiration from the “dream team” leading the federal team. After years building and exerting influence in the party’s rank-and-file, Antic confirmed his candidacy for the president’s position in a message to supporters. The message, seen by Guardian Australia, reads: double quotation mark In recent months, we have seen encouraging green shoots at the federal level with the emergence of a strong leadership team featuring Angus Taylor and Senator Matt Canavan, further bolstered by the election of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott as President of the Federal Liberal Division. This is, without doubt, a dream team – and it has inspired me to announce my candidacy for President of the South Australian Division. The tilt at the state Liberal presidency would seemingly end speculation that Antic could defect to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. Antic talked up his record in Canberra fighting against “Labor’s economic failures, cultural radicalism, and assaults on our freedom”. He said the results of the March South Australia election – where the Liberals were reduced to just five lower house seats – showed the party must return to Menzies tradition of “liberty and resolute opposition to socialism, or risk continued decline”. Antic urged supporters to turn out to local branch AGMs (annual general meetings) to ensure he had the numbers to secure the presidency at the party’s state council. He also encouraged backers to join the Liberal women’s council to help thwart a “serious challenge” from the party’s moderate wing. double quotation mark Over recent years, the LWC (Liberal Women’s Council) has been a courageous and vital choice for Liberal women, fearlessly championing pro-life issues, fairness for women in sport, and many other critical matters affecting Australians. Share Updated at 02.20 BST 1h ago 01.57 BST Hastie brushes off One Nation threat in his seat: ‘I don’t live in fear’ Liberal shadow cabinet minister Andrew Hastie says polls “keep you sharp” but he’s only focused on defeating Labor, not the rising popularity of One Nation.
Jumping back to the frontbencher talking to Sky News earlier, Hastie said he did not know why Pauline Hanson would want One Nation to challenge his seat of Canning in WA at the next election if she “wants to defeat Labor”. Polling over the weekend showed One Nation could decimate the Coalition at the next election and even claim Hastie’s electorate. Hastie said: double quotation mark I don’t live in fear. I mean, my mission is clear – it’s to defeat Labor. One Nation, their mission is less clear. Pauline Hanson came out on the weekend and said she’s targeting Canning. Well, if she wants to defeat Labor, I’m not sure why she’d be targeting people like me on the centre-right. So we crack on, and two years is a long time. Share Updated at 02.29 BST 1h ago 01.45 BST Ben Doherty Jewish witnesses before royal commission targeted with harassment and intimidation Jewish witnesses before the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion have been targeted with online hate speech and harassment after giving evidence to the commission. Before starting hearings on Tuesday morning, Commissioner Virginia Bell said at least one instance of online harassment and intimidation had been referred to the Australian federal police. double quotation mark We have received reports from a number of witnesses concerning a dramatic increase in online hate messages after they have given evidence. She described the online abuse – which the commission continues to monitor – as an “undiluted level of hatred and bigotry directed towards members of the Jewish community”. Share Updated at 02.02 BST 1h ago 01.35 BST Bridget McKenzie’s travel expenses under scrutiny Victorian Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie has denied misusing taxpayer funds to attend her son’s wedding and engagement party, insisting her travel to Tasmania in 2022 and 2023 coincided with official business. The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday McKenzie claimed taxpayer-funded flights to Tasmania on the weekend of the engagement party, when she was a minister in the Morrison government, and 10 months later, at the time of the wedding. Total costs for the travel are unclear. Records from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority show on 29 April 2022 McKenzie flew from Melbourne to Devonport, where her son lives. No cost has been disclosed. On 1 May, she billed taxpayers $259.40 for a flight from Devonport to Melbourne. View image in fullscreen Victorian Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Her office said McKenzie undertook “a series of high-profile formal ministerial appointments” in Tasmania over the weekend of the engagement party. “Senator McKenzie undertook legitimate activities while working in Tasmania, when she was a senior government minister,” a spokesperson told the Nine newspapers. On the weekend of her son’s wedding, in February 2023, taxpayers paid $853.52 for McKenzie’s travel. Her official duties that weekend included a press conference on budget cuts for local infrastructure. The Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, said he was “absolutely” confident McKenzie had followed the rules. He said on Monday she had paid for personal elements of the trip. Share Updated at 02.33 BST 1h ago 01.34 BST Why was Bowen having a go at Dan Tehan this morning? It wasn’t exactly out of the blue – but because Tehan released details from documents obtained by the opposition under FOI laws, that that Chris Bowen’s department has spent nearly half a million dollars in the first quarter of this year on trips to Turkey, Fiji, Germany and Korea. Tehan says that department officials revealed in estimates last night that the trip to Fiji included a visit to the resort island of Denarau, where officials visited the Sheraton Hotel, which could be the venue hosting the so-called pre-COP climate conference. He also says the documents also show that more than 100 people in Bowen’s department have been pulled into the ‘International climate negotiations’ section. Bowen directly refuted that this morning during his press conference, saying that 30 officials are working on COP – and that they were already “were engaged on climate discussions anyway”. Share 1h ago 01.27 BST Lisa Cox UN special rapporteur to make submissions in North West Shelf court challenges The federal court will allow a United Nations special rapporteur to make submissions in two legal challenges to the Albanese government’s approval of Woodside’s North West Shelf extension. Friends of Australian Rock Art and the Australian Conservation Foundation have challenged environment minister Murray Watt’s controversial decision last year to approve an extension of the life of the gas processing plant in Western Australia from 2030 to 2070. The cases are separate and made on different grounds but are expected to be heard consecutively in July. On Monday, the court approved an application from the UN special rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, to join the legal challenges as amicus curiae (“friend of the court”). ACF climate campaigner Piper Rollins said: double quotation mark We understand this means international law, including the ICJ’s (International Court of Justice) advisory opinion on states’ obligations on climate change, is relevant to the legality of the minister’s decisions about the North West Shelf extension. It is the first time a special rapporteur has joined an Australian climate case. Puentes Riaño will provide information for the court, including on Australia’s international legal obligations. Susan Swain, co-convenor of Friends of Australian Rock Art, said: double quotation mark We always felt that this case was internationally significant for a number of reasons so we are pleased that the Amicus intervention by the UN special rapporteur has been allowed by the court. View image in fullscreen Woodside’s North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project in Western Australia. Photograph: Krystle Wright/The Guardian Share Updated at 01.33 BST 2h ago 01.21 BST Josh Taylor Nudify app-ban legislation ‘complex’ as government seeks to exclude ‘general purpose AI like Grok’ The federal government has said it will be “complex” for legislation to seek to ban deepfake AI nudify apps without catching general purpose apps such as Elon Musk’s Grok, freedom of information documents for estimates briefings for the communications department have revealed. The Albanese government announced in September last year its intention to ban nudify apps that allow users to use AI to create deepfakes nudes of people whose images they upload.
The announcement was made before Grok users on the X platform began using the AI chatbot to create deepfake images of women and children with their clothes removed at the start of this year, drawing widespread outrage and a number of investigations across the globe – including Australia. The legislation has yet to be introduced into parliament but, according to briefing documents prepared for the February 2026 estimates hearings, the department noted the Grok incident illustrated “the real harms posed by readily available nudification tools” and the need for action. The department said the government is seeking to restrict the ability of anyone in Australia to access technology to create non-consensual, sexually explicit deepfakes, but noted it would be complex legislation to cover “general purpose AI like Grok”. double quotation mark The way to achieve this in legislation will be complex as we want to retain the ability for Australians to continue to access AI services that are useful while restricting access to the elements of the technology that cause harm. The department stated it was engaging with stakeholders on the matter and any app not captured by the new nudify laws would still be subject to other eSafety powers. The eSafety commissioner has yet to announce the outcome of the Grok investigation, before a Senate estimates appearance on Wednesday afternoon. Musk has previously denied Grok was used to generate child abuse material, or illegal images, and immediately after the scandal X restricted the types of images people could generate using Grok on the platform. Share Updated at 01.23 BST 2h ago 01.09 BST It’s past 10am, which means that it’s party room time – but this fortnight that’s only for MPs, because senators are still locked away in estimates grilling public servants (and each other). Party room is where leaders will give their MPs a pep talk and discuss what legislation they’re going to support or reject. It’s sometimes also an opportunity for MPs to voice their concerns or ask questions on particular issues (which often gets leaked out to us in the media). We’ll keep our eyes and ears peeled. Then the House will resume sitting at midday. Share Updated at 02.03 BST 2h ago 01.05 BST Royal commission hears from NSW police in second block of public hearings Ben Doherty The royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion will continue its second block of public hearings, with appearances from NSW police officers. Three witnesses are scheduled to give evidence on Tuesday, an anonymised superintendent from the eastern suburbs police area command, as well as two assistant commissioners, Peter McKenna and Scott Cook. The commission is expected to go into closed door hearings later this week to hear sensitive testimony about what information security agencies held about the two Bondi shooters before the December attack on the Chanukah by the Sea event. Public hearings can be seen here. Share Updated at 01.15 BST 2h ago 00.41 BST Penry Buckley Minns insists state and federal intelligence agencies do communicate amid ‘intelligence failure’ The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has insisted that state and federal police and intelligence agencies do communicate, amid reports claiming that earlier warnings about the alleged Bondi gunmen went unheeded. The premier was asked on 2GB radio earlier this morning if reports showed state and federal agencies did not communicate. He said: double quotation mark If the question you’re asking is, do they communicate? They do. They’ve got the joint counter-terrorism taskforce. It’s a committee that comprises senior NSW police, the AFP and intelligence agencies. And I’m not suggesting that it’s perfect, and I’m definitely not suggesting that we can’t make it better, but I know that they’ve been credited with thwarting or stopping … terrorism events in NSW since the committee was established. So, again, this doesn’t mean that it’s running perfectly. We’ve clearly had a giant law enforcement and intelligence failure in December of last year that we need to correct and make better but I also don’t want the public believing that no one talks to each other. The interim report of the royal commission into antisemitism recommended a review of joint counter-terrorism agencies, with “consideration of leadership structures, team integration, systems access and information sharing arrangements”. It called for a particular focus on the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team NSW. The commission’s second block of hearings, focusing on intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies, continues today. Share Updated at 00.51 BST 3h ago 00.24 BST Warning call issued for integrity agencies Tom McIlroy The Centre for Public Integrity has launched a new report at Parliament House this morning calling for Australia’s core integrity agencies to be independent and accountable. Along with crossbench MPs including Helen Haines, David Pocock and David Shoebridge, the centre has called for budget funding for agencies including the Australian Audit Office to be provided through a process separate from government, and for limited terms of appointments be made for office holders. View image in fullscreen Independents Helen Haines and David Pocock. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP The new report – Beyond Labels: Securing Functional Independence for Core Integrity Agencies – also calls for non-government led parliamentary committees to provide oversight for core integrity agencies. Its release comes before departing Anti-Corruption Commission boss Paul Brereton faces Senate estimates this afternoon. Prof Gabrielle Appleby, CPI’s research director, warned the auditor general’s budget allocation meant it might not be able to fulfil its core functions of scrutinising government. double quotation mark In this report, we address that lever of funding that government can pull against integrity agencies, and we call for greater transparency in relation to how governments fund integrity agencies with separate appropriations bill and greater accountability. It’s unfortunate we are seeing these pressures on our integrity agencies but there are design solutions that we have in this report and we urge the government at this point to pick those up. Labor is making a mockery of its promise of transparent government Read more Share Updated at 00.53 BST
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