Australia information dwell: disagreement between on-line security chief and YouTube continues; hearth ants intercepted in WA | Australia information

Key occasions

Nationals’ Bridget McKenzie on lifting defence spending

Chief of the Nationals within the Senate, Bridget McKenzie, has continued to press the federal government to ramp up its defence spending after Nato members agreed to commit 5% of GDP on defence.

Earlier, she mentioned the federal authorities ought to be spending 3.5% of GDP on defence, a big enhance from the present determine of two.3% and in extra of the Coalition’s personal place of three%.

McKenzie instructed ABC’s Afternoon Briefing wherever between 3% and three.5% was what she meant.

On the finish of the day, we have to be spending extra … and ensure it’s spent on the precise factor … that our ADF can defend us within the fashionable geo-strategic setting we discover ourselves in the place the risk is rising.

Showing alongside her, assistant multicultural affairs minister, Julian Hill, mentioned Nato had made the “proper determination” in its personal context, and Australia would function by itself nationwide pursuits “based mostly on the evaluation of the risk, the geopolitical panorama, and discuss to our buddies”.

Bridget, if you wish to decide to spending extra, which your get together is evident about, earlier than and after the election, the important thing query is how you’ll pay for it. It means you need to tax folks extra, doesn’t it?

McKenzie mentioned you would tax folks extra or “prioritise spending appropriately”.

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Up to date at 03.08 EDT

YouTube v eSafety commissioner continued

Josh Taylor

Earlier we introduced you feedback from the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, responding to YouTube’s response to her name to not exclude the video-streaming platform from the under-16s social media ban.

Inman Grant argued kids might nonetheless entry YouTube if the platform is banned by not logging in.

And now YouTube has responded to the response to the response.

Rachel Lord, YouTube’s ANZ public coverage and authorities relations senior supervisor, mentioned telling youthful folks to make use of YouTube logged out “deprives them of the age-appropriate experiences and extra security guardrails we particularly designed for youthful folks”.

YouTube just isn’t a social media platform; it’s a video streaming platform with a library of free, high-quality content material. eSafety’s recommendation to incorporate YouTube within the social media ban is in direct contradiction to the federal government’s personal dedication, its personal analysis on neighborhood sentiment, unbiased analysis, and the view of Australian mother and father, academics and different key stakeholders on this debate.

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Up to date at 03.01 EDT

Petra Inventory

Continued from earlier put up:

Prof Sara Bice, an skilled in social licence at ANU’s Crawford Faculty of Public Coverage, mentioned when communities voiced opposition to main infrastructure it normally mirrored issues about how selections have been made, or unfavorable native impacts, and didn’t imply folks have been against the vitality transition.

That is particularly the case in the case of overhead transmission traces, that are essentially the most opposed transition infrastructure, in accordance with Australian analysis from CSIRO and the Australian Vitality Infrastructure Commissioner.

Issues go incorrect when neighborhood issues are ignored, when initiatives are pushed via at a pace that makes real participation troublesome or unimaginable, and when ‘advantages’ are seen as unequally distributed, brief time period in focus or don’t meet precedence wants of native communities.

Neighbour funds may very well be a optimistic step, Bice mentioned, as an financial acknowledgement of what folks have been buying and selling off. Co-benefits and benefit-sharing agreements – frequent in European developments – have been one other essential choice for builders to think about.

Australia’s electrical energy market operator has signalled it might “revisit” transmission line initiatives – aside from these already dedicated or below approach – within the subsequent iteration of the built-in system plan, the nation’s electrical energy transition roadmap, partially because of the problem of gaining neighborhood acceptance.

The setting results assertion for the Western Renewables Hyperlink will go on public exhibition from 30 June.

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Up to date at 02.55 EDT

Petra Inventory

Neighbour funds as much as $40,000 for folks dwelling close to Western Renewables Hyperlink

Vitality community firm Ausnet mentioned it’ll pay neighbours of the Western Renewables Hyperlink in Victoria as much as $40,000, because the high-voltage energy line approaches the ultimate levels of the environmental approvals course of.

The funds recognised neighbours close to transmission traces usually skilled related impacts to landowners, with out receiving monetary compensation, Ausnet mentioned.

Supervisor of main initiatives, Gerard Carew, mentioned the strategy recognised the position of communities in enabling the vitality transition, and aligned with VicGrid’s draft neighborhood advantages framework.

Our engagement on the proposed Western Renewables Hyperlink undertaking has highlighted that neighbouring landholders are searching for better recognition.

The announcement additionally included increased funds for landowners and elevated funding for pre-construction neighborhood initiatives.

Tony Goodfellow, coverage and engagement supervisor for RE-Alliance, a not-for-profit targeted on neighborhood advocacy throughout the vitality transition, mentioned:

RE-Alliance has been calling for wider, tangible advantages exterior of funds to host landholders for years.

There’ll all the time be folks locally who don’t need transmission to go forward. But when the initiatives do rise up, it’s essential that the broader neighborhood can profit – as could be the case with these neighbour funds.

Continued in subsequent put up:

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Up to date at 02.56 EDT

And with that, I’ll hand over to Caitlin Cassidy, who will take you thru the remainder of the day’s information. Have a terrific night, wherever you’re.

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Hearth ants found and destroyed in Perth

Hearth ants have been present in a transport container that had arrived in Perth, the federal government company in command of eradicating the invasive species says.

In a press release launched right now, the Nationwide Hearth Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) mentioned the ants had been “efficiently intercepted” and “instantly destroyed” after they have been found earlier this month.

The NFAEP mentioned that, on 17 June, a workers member from a Hope Valley enterprise noticed suspect hearth ants on a pallet in a transport container that originated from southeast Queensland.

The company mentioned the enterprise handled the ants with family insect spray and contacted the NFAEP and Western Australia Division of Major Industries and Regional Improvement (WA DPIRD).

After WA DPIRD officers took ant samples from the premises – and utilized a precautionary chemical remedy – the NFAEP mentioned it confirmed the ants have been hearth ants on 24 June.

The NFAEP mentioned:

On behalf of all Australians, the NFAEP and the WA DPIRD thank this workers member for his or her vigilance – their actions stopped the unfold of fireplace ants.

Hearth ant detections exterior the Queensland’s containment boundary do occur on occasion. The NFAEP, together with all state and territory governments, has procedures in place to handle them.

Marni Manning, the NFAEP’s basic operations supervisor, mentioned the “interception” was a reminder that neighborhood and business vigilance might cease the unfold of fireplace ants, and that:

It is important that people and companies transporting and receiving equipment or supplies from Queensland’s hearth ant biosecurity zones test that fireplace ant-safe practices are in place.

Please additionally keep alert, test deliveries, and observe motion controls to assist defend our communities.

It solely takes one missed cargo to place a complete neighborhood in danger. Hearth ants don’t cease at borders – neither can we.

The venomous insect, which may inflict a painful chew on people and colonise huge areas, has infested a lot of south-east Queensland after it was first detected in 2001.

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Up to date at 02.46 EDT

Australia is Solomon Islands’ ‘safety companion of selection’, Pat Conroy says

The defence minister, Pat Conroy, is showing on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing amid a visit to the Solomon Islands, the place he has introduced $20m in federal authorities help for the nation to carry the following Pacific Islands Discussion board (PIF).

Requested if the funding got here with situations, together with the nation’s relationship with China, Conroy mentioned “under no circumstances”.

We do that commonly for many PIF internet hosting international locations, recognising the duty to help them to host an essential factor. There are not any situations. We’re the first safety companion for Solomon Islands, their companion of selection and that’s one thing we work exhausting at each day to verify now we have that belief and confidence.

Requested if he had reiterated a view that China shouldn’t be a part of policing within the Solomons, Conroy mentioned he had “made it clear” that was the Australian authorities’s view.

We respect the sovereign proper of any nation to resolve who they companion with. I’m reassured by the prime minister of the Solomon Islands’ dedication, we’re the safety companion of selection … I’m satisfied he’s critical about our undertakings.

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Up to date at 02.44 EDT

Cait Kelly

Rents in Tasmania up 43% in 5 years, new report finds

Rental prices have elevated by 43% since 2020 in Tasmania, in accordance with a brand new report from the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (Tascoss).

For the second yr working, Anglicare Tasmania’s Rental Affordability Snapshot 2025 additionally discovered that 0% of properties listed in late March 2025 have been reasonably priced for folks on the bottom incomes.

The Tascoss CEO, Adrienne Picone, mentioned:

With hire as a proportion of earnings persevering with to blow out – excess of the 30% ‘rental stress’ threshold – Tasmanians are being compelled on to the social housing waitlist or into unsuitable and unsafe lodgings, and within the worst instances, homelessness.

Discovering a rental in a good market stays close to unimaginable, with Burnie’s rental emptiness charge sitting at 0.7% and Launceston and Hobart not far behind, properly in need of a wholesome emptiness charge of up round 3%.

Picone mentioned the take-up of the Personal Rental Incentive Scheme and Household Violence Speedy Rehousing applications was going backwards, and that:

A mixed whole of 258 properties reasonably priced rental properties have been delivered by these two applications, however with round 44,000 personal leases in Tasmania it’ll have little to no impression on bettering rental affordability in Tasmania and extra should be accomplished.

Tasmanians deserve higher. With out authorities intervention to restrict hire rises and enhance the provision of applicable, reasonably priced rental properties, an increasing number of Tasmanians will face homelessness.

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Up to date at 02.25 EDT

Catie McLeod

Hiya. I hope you’ve had a great day up to now. I’ll be with you on the weblog for the following couple of minutes.

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Rafqa Touma

Thanks for becoming a member of us on the weblog right now. Handing over now to Catie McLeod, who will maintain you posted with the afternoon’s information.

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‘Finest air ever’: 18-year-old Australian wows browsing world

A step change within the evolution of browsing led to by an Australian teenager has electrified the world of maximum sport and drawn reward from the doyen of skateboarding, Tony Hawk.

Eighteen-year-old Central Coast surfer Hughie Vaughan produced what has been dubbed a “stalefish flipper” at a contest in a wave park in Texas this week that has already been considered thousands and thousands of instances on social media.

The aerial had {the teenager} from Bateau Bay launching right into a backflip on a proper break, holding his board along with his proper hand and touchdown easily on the highest of the wave.

Learn the complete story:

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Up to date at 01.21 EDT

Usman Khawaja refuses SEN interview after radio station’s sacking of journalist

Cricketer Usman Khawaja refused an interview with Australian sports activities radio station SEN after the primary day’s play of the primary Check in opposition to West Indies in Barbados, 4 months after the station sacked the journalist Peter Lalor on account of his outspoken help of Palestinians.

Learn the complete story right here:

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Trent Curtin appointed commissioner of NSW RFS

Trent Curtin has been appointed new commissioner to steer the NSW Rural Hearth Service.

“Curtin has intensive expertise as an emergency companies chief in NSW and Victoria, the place he has been concerned in managing important fires and large-scale pure disasters and dealing with volunteers,” the minister for emergency companies, Jihad Dib, mentioned.

RFS volunteers are on the forefront of the state’s pure catastrophe response. From the 2019-20 bushfires to newer flood occasions, they’re a reassuring presence for communities in want.

Mr Curtin began his firefighting profession 30 years in the past as a volunteer and I sit up for working with him as he brings his emergency service experience to an organisation on the frontline of bushfire response.

I thank the outgoing commissioner Rob Rogers, who will end within the position on 4 July, for his 4 many years of service to NSW communities.”

Curtin mentioned “the RFS performs an important position in our communities, responding in essentially the most troublesome circumstances to assist others of their time of want”.

I sit up for honouring the legacy of the RFS as a community-centred company, whereas making certain we stay prepared to satisfy the problem of extra frequent and intense pure disasters.

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Up to date at 00.43 EDT

Australia affords recent Solomons assist forward of PIF summit

Australia has introduced $A11 m in help to enhance roads in Solomon Islands because it prepares to host the Pacific Islands Discussion board leaders summit.

Pacific Island minister Pat Conroy unveiled the pledge in Honiara right now together with a situation aimed squarely at Australia’s geopolitical rival China.

Australian officers are privately vital of Chinese language international assist delivered by migrant employees within the Pacific, with Conroy saying this funding would keep away from the apply.

“We’re ensuring our initiatives are delivered by native corporations,” he mentioned.

That is one of the simplest ways we are able to guarantee financial advantages circulation to Solomon Islands from day one, and that these initiatives create extra jobs for locals.

China can also be delivering street upgrades within the notoriously choked-up Honiara, which depends on one key arterial street to service the capital’s enterprise districts and airport.

Australia’s recent funding will go in the direction of 12 roads: 4 within the northern island of Malaita and eight in Honiara, the host of the regional summit in September.

“We all know the impression of deteriorating roads for attending to work, getting produce to market, getting kids and relations to high school or well being companies,” Conroy mentioned.

Communities alongside Malaita’s South Highway have been successfully lower off from important companies for over two years because of the South Highway being impassable …

The reopening of the South Highway final yr – with help from Australia and the nice work of native contractors – has restored that important hyperlink from Auki to Bina and past.

Conroy introduced one other $A7m in assist for the Tina River Hydro scheme, taking its whole help for the renewable vitality undertaking to $A70m.

When full, the mighty dam is anticipated to energy two-thirds of Honiara’s vitality wants.

The federal government has additionally pledged to double funding for surveillance of unlawful fishing within the area.

– Australian Related Press

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Up to date at 00.26 EDT

Angus Taylor says he’s not a supporter of gender quotas

Dan Jervis-Bardy

Senior Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor says he doesn’t help gender quotas as a mechanism to develop the variety of girls in its ranks, after his new chief put all choices on the desk to elevate the get together’s feminine illustration.

The brand new opposition chief, Sussan Ley, has declared herself a “zealot” for motion to draw extra girls to the get together however was “agnostic” concerning the methodology.

Labor launched gender quotas greater than 30 years in the past, with girls now comprising greater than half of its caucus. In distinction, girls make up fewer than 30% of the Coalition get together room.

However Taylor – who Ley defeated within the post-election Liberal management poll – mentioned quotas weren’t the reply.

He instructed Sky Information:

I’m not a supporter of quotas. As Sussan mentioned, that is going to be a matter for state divisions [of the Liberal party]. It’s not one thing that I believe is important with the intention to get the result. I believe attracting, mentoring, retaining nice folks and nice girls within the get together is extremely essential work for completely all people, for all leaders. And I take that very critically.

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Up to date at 00.35 EDT

Josh Taylor

Australia’s eSafety commissioner corrects YouTube’s ‘mistaken’ claims

The eSafety commissioner has responded to what she says have been YouTube’s “mistaken” claims about her place that the video streaming service ought to be included within the under-16s social media ban.

The commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, on Tuesday revealed she had really helpful to the communications minister, Anika Wells, that YouTube’s deliberate exemption from the ban be faraway from the principles at the moment below growth, pointing to eSafety analysis highlighting that kids encounter doubtlessly dangerous content material on YouTube greater than every other platform.

In response, YouTube pointed to the excessive variety of academics who use YouTube in school rooms on a month-to-month foundation, and urged the federal government to “guarantee younger Australians can proceed to entry enriching content material on YouTube”.

Inman Grant fired again on Thursday in a press release, and mentioned YouTube “at the moment employs lots of the identical options and performance related to the harms that the laws is searching for to deal with” like autoplay, and algorithmic suggestions. However she mentioned eSafety’s recommendation wouldn’t imply kids would not be capable of entry academic content material on YouTube.

Inman Grant mentioned:

The brand new regulation will solely prohibit kids below the age of 16 from having their very own accounts – not accessing content material on YouTube or every other service via hyperlinks from the varsity or in a ‘logged-out’ state.

There may be nothing within the laws that forestalls educators with their very own accounts from persevering with to include school-approved academic content material on YouTube or every other service simply as they do now.

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Up to date at 23.59 EDT

Angus Taylor requires transparency on US army operations in Australia

Josh Butler

The federal government ought to be extra clear about US army operations in Australia, in accordance with the shadow defence minister, Angus Taylor, who says he’s searching for briefings from Labor about whether or not Pine Hole or different services have been used within the bombings of Iranian nuclear websites.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese and international minister Penny Wong would solely say that the US bombings have been “unilateral” motion, when pressed a number of instances this week about what involvement – if any – Australian belongings or services had within the US army strikes.

Andrew Hastie, the shadow house affairs minister, mentioned on Tuesday there ought to be “better transparency” concerning the US army presence in Australia. Requested about this at a doorstop right now, Taylor agreed.

“I do assume the federal government must be very clear with us about what our involvement is or could be, in each the Ukraine and the Center East. I believe that’s one thing that we do wish to see,” he mentioned.

I’ve personally requested the defence minister for a briefing on this, and I do assume it’s incumbent on the federal government to guarantee that we’re totally knowledgeable as to what that scenario could be.

Taylor mentioned he was nonetheless searching for briefings, including “I believe it’s essential that we be capable of perceive what that scenario is.” Requested if he could be involved if Pine Hole had been a part of the US strikes, he replied: “it’s speculative, as a result of we don’t have any details about what may need occurred or the way it may need been used, however we do assume it’s applicable that we’d be briefed on that.”

Requested on Tuesday about Hastie’s feedback, Marles countered that he believed “there’s truly a excessive diploma of transparency in relation to america presence in Australia.”

We have now lengthy had full information and concurrence preparations in relation to America’s pressure posture in Australia, not simply in relation to Pine Hole, however in relation to all of its pressure posture in Australia.

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Up to date at 00.05 EDT