Latest News Stories
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Today
Teal independents Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender launch new centrist party Community Strong Australia
Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender officially launched Community Strong Australia, a new centrist political party, on June 24, 2026, aiming to provide a structured alternative for voters disillusioned ...
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- Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender launched Community Strong Australia, a new centrist political party, on June 24, 2026.
- The party’s constitution allows members to vote freely on all matters except supply and confidence to a government, with a requirement to advocate for policy pillars: sensible economic management, climate action, equality, and integrity.
- The party has no leader; instead, parliamentary leaders will collectively lead, and membership is limited to parliamentarians and pre-selected candidates.
Angus Taylor avoids clarifying Liberal stance on multiculturalism amid Pauline Hanson's 'monoculture' push
Angus Taylor faced intense scrutiny on June 24, 2026, after repeatedly refusing to confirm whether the Liberal Party supports multiculturalism, instead deflecting questions by asking reporters to defi...
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- Angus Taylor was asked five times about whether he supports multiculturalism in Australia on June 24, 2026, and repeatedly refused to give a direct answer, instead asking reporters to define the term.
- Pauline Hanson declared in a National Press Club speech on June 17, 2026, that Australia 'cannot be a multicultural society' and must be 'monocultural'.
- Tony Abbott, Liberal Party president, stated in a Sky News interview on June 23, 2026, that Australia has a 'core Anglo-Celtic culture' and a 'foundational Judeo-Christian ethos that should never change'.
Karl Stefanovic leaves Nine Network after Tommy Robinson podcast controversy
Karl Stefanovic, Nine Network’s highest-paid presenter and co-host of *Today*, is leaving the network following a controversial podcast interview with far-right British activist Tommy Robinson. The in...
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- Karl Stefanovic’s interview with far-right activist Tommy Robinson was taken down from YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Instagram less than 12 hours after its release on June 24, 2026.
- Tommy Robinson is a former member of the British National Party and co-founder of the English Defence League, an anti-Islam movement.
- Robinson has convictions for assault, mortgage fraud, using a false passport, and contempt of court, including a 2024 jail sentence for ignoring a court order.
Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming accuses Matthew Guy of assault; party turmoil ahead of election
Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has accused former party leader Matthew Guy of assaulting her at a Macedonian community event in Sunshine on 23 May 2026, sparking a party room crisis five months be...
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- Moira Deeming accused Matthew Guy of assaulting her at a Macedonian community event in Sunshine on 23 May 2026
- Victoria Police are investigating the alleged assault, which was reported on 16 June 2026
- CCTV footage from the event shows Guy placing his arm on Deeming’s back during a conversation, but no violent headlock
US Senate votes on war powers resolution to block Trump’s Iran military action
The US Senate passed a war powers resolution on June 24, 2026, by a 50–48 vote to block President Donald Trump’s military action against Iran, marking the first time since 1973 Congress directed a pre...
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- The US Senate passed a war powers resolution (50–48) on June 24, 2026, to block military action against Iran, marking the first time since 1973 Congress directed a president to halt hostilities.
- Four Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), Rand Paul (Kentucky), and Bill Cassidy (Louisiana)—voted with Democrats in favor of the resolution.
- John Fetterman (Democrat, Pennsylvania) was the sole Democrat to vote against the resolution.
Karl Stefanovic's firing from Nine's Today show after controversial Tommy Robinson podcast interview
Karl Stefanovic was fired from Nine’s Today show on June 25, 2026, after a controversial podcast interview with far-right activist Tommy Robinson, which was deleted within hours. Billionaire James Pac...
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- Billionaire James Packer defended Karl Stefanovic, saying 'I didn’t think it was that bad' about the Tommy Robinson podcast interview
- Karl Stefanovic's hour-long interview with Tommy Robinson was deleted from Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Instagram less than 12 hours after release (June 25, 2026)
- Stefanovic called outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer a 'wanker' in a preview video of the Robinson interview
Fortescue Metals Group faces class action over sexual harassment, assault claims at remote mines
A class action lawsuit filed on June 25, 2026, in the Federal Court of Victoria accuses Fortescue Metals Group of systemic sexual harassment, violence, and retaliation against female workers at its re...
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- A class action lawsuit was filed in the Federal Court of Victoria on June 25, 2026, alleging systemic sexual harassment, violence, and retaliation against female workers at Fortescue’s remote mine sites from 2006 to 2025.
- The lawsuit includes allegations of rape, sexual assault, stalking, and micro-aggressions, such as women being warned against using on-site laundries due to theft of female underwear.
- Fortescue’s iron ore mines are located in remote parts of Western Australia, with a large fly-in, fly-out workforce staying in on-site accommodation villages.
Australia's World Cup squad selection dilemma ahead of Paraguay match
Australia's Socceroos are facing a critical selection dilemma ahead of their final group-stage World Cup match against Paraguay on June 25, 2026, at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Head coach Tony Pop...
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- Australia's final group-stage game against Paraguay will be played at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (capacity 68,500) on June 25, 2026.
- Tony Popovic is the head coach of the Australian Socceroos, and Paul Okon is his assistant coach.
- Matt Leckie and Jacob Italiano are injured and will miss the Paraguay game.
Back-to-back earthquakes devastate Venezuela’s Caracas, causing building collapses and injuries
Two powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela on June 25, 2026, just west of Caracas, causing widespread building collapses and injuries. The quakes occurred less than a...
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- Two back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 25, 2026, at approximately 6:04 PM local time: a magnitude 7.2 (later revised to 7.2 by USGS) followed by a magnitude 7.5 less than a minute later.
- The first earthquake had an epicenter 160–168 km west of Caracas, near Morón, with a depth of 13 km, and the second had an epicenter 16 km southwest of Morón at a depth of 10 km.
- The quakes caused significant building damage in Caracas, including collapsed structures in the Altamira neighborhood and the Hotel Eduard in La Guaira.
Australian property market downturn in Sydney and Melbourne, June 2026
Australian property markets in Sydney and Melbourne are experiencing a downturn, with forecasts predicting house price declines of up to 7% in Sydney and 8% in Melbourne over the next 12 months. While...
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- 96% of homeowners who sold in the March 2026 quarter made a profit, the highest share since December 2025, with a median gain of $377,000 (Cotality Pain and Gain Report).
- 45.1% of sales in Melbourne City Council lost money in the March 2026 quarter, followed by Stonnington (30.2%), Port Phillip (23.3%), and Yarra (22.8%).
- 21.6% of sales in Sydney’s Strathfield LGA lost money in the March 2026 quarter, 21.2% in Parramatta, and 19.9% in Ryde.
Bill Gates admits affairs with three women in Epstein testimony, denies blackmail
Bill Gates testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee in June 2026, admitting to three extramarital affairs with Mila Antonova, Karima Nigmatulina, and Dr Alice Jacobs Nesselrodt. Initially, ...
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- Bill Gates named Mila Antonova (bridge player) and Karima Nigmatulina (nuclear physicist) as two women he had affairs with in testimony to the House Oversight Committee.
- Gates later admitted to a third affair with Dr Alice Jacobs Nesselrodt (medical entrepreneur) after being shown an unredacted email from Epstein mentioning her.
- Gates testified voluntarily to Congress in June 2026, with a transcript published on June 24, 2026.
Victorian Liberal MP assault allegation sparks party turmoil ahead of election
A Victorian Liberal MP has accused another party colleague of assault at a community event last month, triggering a political storm just five months before the state election. The complainant, who was...
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- A Victorian Liberal MP alleged assault by another Liberal MP at a community event last month (June 2026)
- The incident was reported to Victoria Police on June 16, 2026, and the investigation remains ongoing
- Victoria Police confirmed the complainant was a woman and the accused was a man, and both parties are known to each other
Australian ISIS-linked woman granted return permit after exclusion order lifted
The Australian government has granted a return permit to an ISIS-linked woman previously barred from entering the country under a temporary exclusion order. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced ...
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- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the woman was issued a return permit after legal advice that exclusion conditions could no longer be enforced
- The woman will be subject to 'every possible condition,' including monitoring her residence, work, studies, and telecommunications use (24-hour notice required for phone/social media)
- She is the last remaining Australian woman from the Syrian detention camp with ISIS links to return to Australia
France confirms first Ebola case in doctor returning from DRC outbreak
France confirmed its first Ebola case on June 24, 2026, in a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the 17th outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain has been ongoing since May 1...
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- France confirmed its first Ebola case on June 24, 2026, involving a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
- The patient was a doctor working for the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) and was immediately isolated upon arrival in Paris.
- The patient was asymptomatic except for headaches during the flight from Kinshasa and was in stable condition with a very low viral load.
NRL player Asu Kepaoa banned for homophobic slur; Latrell Mitchell injured; Perth Bears recruitment
Newcastle Knights forward Asu Kepaoa was banned for six weeks after pleading guilty to using a homophobic slur during a NSW Cup match on June 17, 2026. The incident occurred during a reserve-grade gam...
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- Asu Kepaoa was banned for six weeks (six matches) for using a homophobic slur in a NSW Cup match against St George Illawarra on June 17, 2026.
- Kepaoa pleaded guilty to the offence at a NSWRL judiciary hearing on June 22, 2026, and issued a personal apology.
- Kepaoa was sent off before half-time in the Knights' reserve-grade defeat of St George Illawarra on June 17, 2026.
One Nation MP David Farley’s vote on fuel tax rebate sparks political backlash
One Nation MP David Farley’s vote in favor of a teal amendment to cap fuel tax rebates for big mining companies at $50 million has sparked controversy. The vote, which excluded farmers and small busin...
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- One Nation MP David Farley voted for a teal amendment to cap fuel tax rebates for big mining companies at $50 million, excluding farmers and small businesses, on June 24, 2026.
- The fuel tax rebate scheme refunds businesses (miners, farmers, etc.) the 52.6c per litre excise on fuel used for off-road heavy machinery.
- The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) launched a campaign called 'Hands Off Our Fuel' to protect the rebate scheme, calling Farley’s vote 'disappointing' and an attack on regional Australia.
Death of former Liberal vice-president Teena McQueen and her political career
Teena McQueen, a long-serving Liberal Party vice-president from 2017 to 2023, died on June 25, 2026, after a brief illness. She had defected to One Nation in May 2026, ending decades of Liberal Party ...
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- Teena McQueen served as federal Liberal Party vice-president from 2017 to 2023
- McQueen died on Wednesday, June 25, 2026, after a short but severe illness
- McQueen defected to One Nation in May 2026 after decades in the Liberal Party
Australia's World Cup injury crisis ahead of Paraguay match
Australia faces a significant injury crisis ahead of their World Cup group decider against Paraguay, with key players Jacob Italiano and Mat Leckie ruled out due to groin and hamstring injuries respec...
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- Jacob Italiano (wing-back) is ruled out of Australia's Paraguay World Cup game due to a groin (adductor) injury suffered in training this week
- Australia needs a win or draw against Paraguay to advance to the knockout stage from Group D
- Mat Leckie (winger) was also ruled out of the Paraguay game after limping out of the USA match with a hamstring strain
Yesterday
Australian electricity price confusion amid rate hikes despite default offer drops
Australian consumers are experiencing confusion over electricity price changes as retailers raise fixed supply charges by up to 60% despite the Australian Energy Regulator’s announcement of a 10.7% dr...
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- The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) announced default market electricity prices would decrease by up to 10.7% from July 2026 in areas including south-east Queensland, following declines in wholesale generation costs and increased renewable energy output.
- Some electricity retailers are raising fixed supply charges (daily charges) by up to 60% while reducing usage charges, leading to higher overall bills for low-consumption households despite the AER’s default price drop.
- The Australian Energy Council (representing retailers) states that most customers will see decreases in their bills this year, though many will experience a 'rebalancing' of charges with higher fixed costs and lower usage rates.
WA police review Virginia Giuffre’s domestic violence case before her 2025 suicide
Western Australia’s police have agreed to review their handling of Virginia Giuffre’s domestic violence case after her family requested an investigation into her 2025 suicide at age 41. Giuffre, a pro...
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- Virginia Giuffre died by suicide on April 2025 at age 41 on her semi-rural property north of Perth, Western Australia
- WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed a review of police interactions with Giuffre after receiving a letter from her family (Sky and Amanda Roberts)
- Giuffre’s family requested a coronial inquiry and police review regarding a domestic violence dispute she had before her death