Bird flu may have been detected in seven greater crested terns in South Australia. Photograph: imageBROKER/David & Micha Sheldon/Getty Images/imageBROKER RF
Bird flu may have been detected in seven greater crested terns in South Australia. Photograph: imageBROKER/David & Micha Sheldon/Getty Images/imageBROKER RF
Experts say new SA bird flu cases suggest disease has begun to spread in local birds
Lisa Cox
South Australia has seven new suspected cases of deadly H5 bird flu and experts warn the disease has likely begun to spread in local bird populations.
All seven birds are greater crested terns, with one found at Cape Jaffa, one at Port MacDonnell and five around Southend Jetty, near Beachport on the Limestone Coast.
Kate Millar, chief executive of BirdLife Australia, said:
If we were in a bushfire scenario, those sub-antarctic birds that arrived with the disease initially were like the embers. Now having it in crested terns, that’s the smoke.
This is now taking hold and is evidence of spread.
Governments have been saying it hasn’t spread, this is evidence of spread.
South Australia’s primary industries minister, Clare Scriven, told media on Monday the development was concerning. Samples have been sent to the CSIRO for verification the birds had the deadly H5N1 strain. That analysis will also help determine whether the disease has begun to spread between local birds, the government said.
Pro-Palestine protesters compared to pro-German protesters in Nazi Germany at royal commission
Robert Gregory, the president of the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), has said antisemitism became “socially acceptable” after the 7 October 2023 terror attack in Israel and likened pro-Palestine protestors to participants in Kristallnacht.
He told the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion that he compared people protesting for Palestinian rights with people protesting for German rights after Kristallnacht in Nazi Germany.
Gregory said:
Sometimes I make the comparison … Some of these protesters will say that they’re for Palestinian rights, which as a concept, you know, sounds quite benign. But after Kristallnacht, people started protesting for German people’s rights. I mean, of course, German people have rights but there is a significance in the events and the atrocities if you are now to all of a sudden come out and promote this cause.
A co-convener for Students for Palestine Yasmine Johnson, who is Jewish, told the commission earlier this month that they were calling for an “end to violence” in protest of more than 70,000 people who have been killed by the IDF in Gaza, and were an “anti-racist movement”.
Gregory also said Labor’s national conference last week, when Ed Husic failed in a push for the party to recognise claims of a genocide against Israel, had created a “hostile environment” for Jews.
In about 20 minutes, a national emergency test alert will be sent to compatible mobile devices.
Most phones, and some smartwatches and tablets, will receive a pop-up notification and an alert sound that cannot be silenced, even if the device is on Do Not Disturb or silent mode.
Family take legal action after Aboriginal death in custody
The family of a young Aboriginal man who died in custody has launched legal action in the NT supreme court after the officers involved were not prosecuted, AAP reports.
Kumanjayi White, 24, died in Alice Springs in May 2025 after two plain-clothes police officers held him down in a supermarket, sparking national outrage and rallies calling for an independent investigation.
His family were told in May, on the eve of the first anniversary of White’s death, that no charges would be laid, marking “an incredibly traumatic experience”.
White’s grandfather Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said there has been a lack of transparency from authorities since his grandson’s life was “violently cut short”. He said:
We said from day one that we did not trust this process.
Nobody will tell us who actually made the decision [that no charges would be laid].
We deserve to know all the information about his death and about the process including who decided that no one should be charged and why.
Experts say new SA bird flu cases suggest disease has begun to spread in local birds
Lisa Cox
South Australia has seven new suspected cases of deadly H5 bird flu and experts warn the disease has likely begun to spread in local bird populations.
All seven birds are greater crested terns, with one found at Cape Jaffa, one at Port MacDonnell and five around Southend Jetty, near Beachport on the Limestone Coast.
Kate Millar, chief executive of BirdLife Australia, said:
If we were in a bushfire scenario, those sub-antarctic birds that arrived with the disease initially were like the embers. Now having it in crested terns, that’s the smoke.
This is now taking hold and is evidence of spread.
Governments have been saying it hasn’t spread, this is evidence of spread.
South Australia’s primary industries minister, Clare Scriven, told media on Monday the development was concerning. Samples have been sent to the CSIRO for verification the birds had the deadly H5N1 strain. That analysis will also help determine whether the disease has begun to spread between local birds, the government said.
Man accused of crashing Ballarat iftar dinner charged by police
A 37-year-old man has been charged over an alleged disturbance at an iftar dinner gathering in Ballarat in March.
The man allegedly forced his way into the community hall in the suburb of Alfredton during the Muslim meal at sunset, marking the end of the day’s fast during Ramadan.
Police were called to the scene and found the man being detained. No physical injuries were reported.
Since the incident, police say they have engaged with local Islamic community groups, local government and people who attended the event.
The man has now been charged with several offences, including assault, disturbing a religious assembly and other related matters. He is due to appear in the magistrates court in September.
Australian Jewish Association calls for security guards to be armed to protect attenders of Jewish events
Robert Gregory, the president of the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), says there should be a government review of the protective capabilities of licensed security guards so there can be armed security at Jewish events that aren’t attended by the police.
He told the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion:
If the police can be there, that’s great, but they can’t be all the time. And even if they can be, it’s a huge cost on taxpayers … I think it just makes sense that you allow [security guards] to have the capabilities to protect the community.
He said members of the organisation have been subject to “abuse and intimidation”, pointing to one incident in 2024 before he was due to appear before a Senate committee into misinformation laws.
The day before we received some threats, the nature of one of them was something like “kill all Jews”. Another was a hangman’s noose and the words, “you appear at the Senate inquiry tomorrow … you will die”.
The committee reported it to the police, and an arrest was made. Last week, the AJA received another “serious threat” in an email, which Gregory said “didn’t meet the threshold” of an offence according to the Australian federal police, until it was reported in the media.
‘Entire Jewish religion’ revolves around Israel, royal commission hears
The president of the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) Robert Gregory has told the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion that the “entire Jewish religion” revolves around Israel. The AJA is a self-described centre-right advocacy group. This block of hearings is examining the security arrangements for the Jewish community. Gregory said:
It is inherent in every part of Judaism from the Jewish festivals … to Jewish weddings, where we break a glass to remember the destruction of Jerusalem, to even the burial of Jewish people who are buried with sand from Jerusalem … Judaism doesn’t exist without Zionism.
The commissioner, Virginia Bell, asked Gregory about other groups who didn’t subscribe to the idea of Zionism being inherent to their Judaism, including Hasidic Jews. She said Israel was “significant” in Judaism but there were “a variety of views about the expression of that significance”.
Gregory said that was a “small sect” in Judaism and a “minuscule” part of the Jewish community in Australia:
Some other people who these days call themselves anti-Zionists actually have more of a difference, but they’re obviously not keeping Judaism as it’s been practised for thousands of years.
The royal commission has heard from members of the Jewish community with opposing views, including the Jewish Council of Australia, who separate Jewish identity from the state of Israel.
The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) president, Robert Gregory, arrives at the royal commission in Sydney. Photograph: Dean Sewell/AAP
NSW police charge two British nationals after seizure of 107kg of ketamine
New South Wales police have charged a man and woman after allegedly seizing 107kg of ketamine, cash and other illicit substances on Sydney’s north shore.
The charges come after authorities allegedly found the drugs during a search of a rented short-stay unit in Artarmon, a hotel in North Sydney and a vehicle parked in the hotel’s car park.
A 30-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, both UK nationals, will face drug charges.
Police will allege they travelled to Australia for “the sole purpose of taking part in the distribution and supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs”.
The pair will appear in court on Wednesday and remain in police custody after being refused bail.
Ben Carroll says he will nominate for Labor leadership
Benita Kolovos
The Victorian deputy premier, Ben Carroll, has issued a statement confirming he has told Jacinta Allan he will run against her for the Labor party leadership.
A group of my colleagues have approached me today, to inform me that Jacinta Allan no longer has the support of our Caucus and have asked me to nominate for the leadership of the Victorian Parliamentary Labor Party. It is clear that the Premier has lost the majority of our Caucus. As such, I have since visited the Premier to inform her that I will be nominating for the leadership of the Labor Party.
He said the decision is “not easy, but the stakes at the upcoming election are simply too high”:
The prospect of a Liberal-One Nation Government that will cut schools, health and front line services is simply too high a risk too ignore.
Victorian deputy premier Ben Carroll. Photograph: Luis Ascui/AAP
Queensland police arrest and charge man with attempted bribery of a public official
Queensland police have extradited and charged a man accused of attempting to bribe a public official for business gain.
The 39-year-old Chinese national is accused of attempting to bribe a Commonwealth public official during a business meeting in Camp Hill.
It is alleged that during the meeting, the man handed the woman a bag of tea later found to contain $20,000 in cash.
After a joint investigation with federal authorities, police arrested the man as he attempted to board an international flight from Sydney last week. He was extradited to Queensland the following day.
The man is expected to appear before Brisbane magistrates court today.
Seven new suspected detections of deadly bird flu in local birds in South Australia
Lisa Cox
South Australia has seven new suspected cases of H5 bird flu in local birds.
The state government is expected to hold a press conference shortly but has confirmed the suspected detections are in greater crested terns. Samples are still to be verified by the CSIRO.
The new detections follow two more confirmed cases in local birds over the weekend, also greater crested terns.
NSW corruption inquiry hears of lengths allegedly gone to by witnesses to avoid scrutiny
Penry Buckley
The counsel assisting NSW Icac’s Operation Rosny, Peggy Dwyer SC, has detailed the lengths that those named in corruption allegationsallegedly went to avoid giving evidence to a NSW parliamentary inquiry.
A 2023 parliamentary inquiry preceded Icac’s current examination of “possible offences under the Electoral Funding Act”, prompted by allegations that Liberals had been paid significant funds to arrange for new councillors to be elected to the Hills Shire council.
Dwyer has said the inquiry could not reach firm conclusions about allegations, “in part because key figures central to the allegations were found to have left the jurisdiction, and/or to have deliberately avoided cooperating with process servers”.
Charles Perrottet resided in Melbourne by the time the parliamentary inquiry convened and declined to return to NSW. Jean-Claude Perrottet, with financial assistance from others named in the allegation went to Fiji to sit out the month of the inquiry. Christian Ellis went to significant lengths to avoid process servers by staying near the NSW-Victorian border.
As Guardian Australia revealed today, former Liberal powerbroker Christian Ellishas moved to the UK and is not expected to give evidence to the commission. Dwyer says:
Thus far, Mr Ellis has declined to give oral evidence to this public inquiry, during which he would be subject to cross-examination. He cites family responsibilities and different time zone. The commission has proposed methods to accommodate his evidence by video link at times acceptable to him, but we await further response from his legal representatives.”
Ellis has previously declined to comment on his relocation or Icac’s allegations. Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet have previously denied any wrongdoing.
More on the Victorian Labor delegation who met with Jacinta Allan
We have some more information on the ministers and MPs who met with the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, to inform her that she has lost the majority of support in the caucus and urge her to stand down.
The group included MPs from the premier’s own socialist left faction, including ministers Ingrid Stitt and Gabrielle Williams, and MP Mathew Hilakari, as well as right-aligned frontbenchers Lizzie Blandthorn, Colin Brooks, Anthony Carbines and Enver Erdogan, recently appointed minister Luba Grigorovitch and MP Ella George.
Guardian Australia understands Allan refused their request and asked the ministers at the meeting to resign, given they had lost faith in her leadership – but they refused.
The group then met with the deputy premier, Ben Carroll, to urge him to stand against Allan.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan (left) and deputy premier Ben Carroll. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP
Sydney developer sought to leverage the influence of brothers of Dominic Perrottet, Icac hears
Returning to the NSW Icac’s Operation Rosny, counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, has described the allegations being investigated in greater detail.
In describing the timeline of the watchdog’s investigations, she has revealed that police referred WhatsApp communications from Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet, two of the brothers of the former premier, Dominic Perrottet, two days before the premier himself referred allegations of corruption to Icac.
The former premier made that move after a 2022 speech in parliament by the Liberal MP for Kellyville, Ray Williams, claimingthat fugitive property developer Jean Nassif had met with senior Liberals, who were allegedly paid significant funds to arrange for new councillors to be elected to the Hills Shire council.
Dwyer has told the hearing that the day before Williams’ speech, police referred legally intercepted communications from “not one but two of Dominic Perrottet’s brothers” to Icac.
That lawfully intercepted information also indicated that Mr Nasif had an association with not one but two of Dominic Perrottet’s brothers, and that he was seeking to leverage their connections with Dominic Perrottet to assist in having the building commissioner David Chandler removed from office.
Dominic Perrottet is not accused of any wrongdoing. Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet and Nassif have previously denied any wrongdoing.
As part of Operation Rosny, Icac is investigating three allegations, firstly that senior Liberal figures “solicited or accepted” donations, including from prohibited donors, in amounts which were undeclared or exceeded caps, to recruit or renew members to the party – a practice known as “branch stacking”.
In her opening statement, the counsel assisting the commission, Dr Peggy Dwyer SC, has said:
Money in politics, as in other spheres of life, has the potential to corrupt.
At a local, state, and federal level, electoral funding laws play a vital role in minimizing. minimizing the risk of corruption by ensuring transparency and attempting to level the playing field. They also promote public confidence in a fair go for politicians and political aspirants, and for the public they are entrusted to serve.
Victorian Labor ministers, MPs meet with Jacinta Allan to tell her she does not have their support
Benita Kolovos
A group of Victorian ministers and MPs from across Labor’s left and right factions have gone to see the premier, Jacinta Allan, to inform her that she has lost the majority of support in the caucus and urge her to stand down.
‘You can’t do this to us’: Taylor urges Albanese to push back against latest Trump tariffs
Federal opposition leader Angus Taylor has said the prime minister should be “sitting down with” US president Donald Trump after the US hit Australian exports with new 12.5% trade tariffs, claiming the country is not doing enough to combat forced labour.
Speaking in Brisbane earlier this morning, Taylor said the tariff “shouldn’t be happening”:
I tell you what should be happening, the prime minister should be sitting down with the president of the United States and saying this is not good enough. He needs to be clear to the president of the United States this is an unacceptable thing to do with one their very greatest friends and allies. You can’t do this to us.
The Australian trade minister, Don Farrell, immediately called for the US to change course last week when the tariffs were announced, saying they were unjustified: