Australia news live: Bradfield recount narrows gap between teal and Liberal; mining giant speaks out against NW Shelf extension | Australia news

Minns says more assistance packages are “not far away” for businesses affected by flooding in the NSW mid-north coast.

The NSW premier was speaking live from Taree:

The government announced in conjunction with the Commonwealth government a range of assistance, and I want to make it clear we’re not done yet.

We know that particularly Category C assistance for communities that have been particularly hard, businesses in particular is important. We are working with the Commonwealth government on a package just for that and I want to make sure it is right and it helps the community, so we will announce that imminently. I explain that to the local MPs who want to make sure the assistance comes from the Commonwealth and state governments for primary producers and small businesses in this part of New South Wales works … We know for a lot of these established businesses, if they do not get the crucial help and support in the next week or month or six months, then they may close their doors and there is virtually no chance of a similar business opening in their stead because a lot of these farms and family run businesses have been at it for generations and they just cannot start from scratch. We are acutely aware of that want to make sure we do a right and I assure everybody on the mid-north coast I have had extensive conversations with the prime minister and the package is not far away.

David Owens appointed as floods recovery coordinator for NSW mid-north coast

NSW Premier Chris Minns was speaking live from Taree a moment ago.

He has appointed former deputy police commissioner David Owens as the recovery coordinator for the mid-north coast.

Minns said:

This is to, I hope, give confidence or inspire confidence that the government will be here for the long haul.

This is a massive logistical operation and help is on the way. It is obviously already in the streets and the communities across the mid-north coast and the upper Hunter, but we need to be here for the long haul and that requires the permanent appointment of Mr Ownes to this important role.

PM lashes ‘predictable’ accusations on defence spending

The prime minister has backed his government’s defence spending after a report warned Australia’s current levels could fail to address threats.

In an era described by authorities as the most dangerous since the end of the second world war, the 2025/26 defence budget misses a “crucial opportunity” to prepare Australia’s military and defence industrial base for future challenges, according to an analysis released by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) today.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, hit back at the report, noting his government had conducted a defence strategic review and would lift expenditure to about 2.3% of GDP within the decade.

“(The institute) need to have a look at themselves and the way they conduct themselves in debates,” he told ABC radio this morning.

It’s predictable and what we’re doing is getting on with the defence assets and providing the investment for those assets to be upgraded.

The government has committed to bringing forward $1bn in funding, though the report says no “significant uplift” is expected until after 2028/29.

The nation’s strategic environment was deteriorating rapidly, the report’s principal author and former Home Affairs department deputy secretary Marc Ablong said.

“Australia faces a real risk of being left behind at the very time when the potential use of the ADF as a military force is rising,” he told AAP.

– Australian Associated Press

The mining company Fortescue Metals – owned by the billionaire Andrew Forrest, who says he aims to meet “real zero” carbon emissions – has sharply criticised the Albanese government’s approval of a 40-year life extension for the North West Shelf gas processing facility.

The company’s chief executive, Dino Otranto, said the idea that Australia could lock in fossil fuel projects until 2070 while still claiming progress toward net zero was “concerning”.

If Australia is serious about tackling climate change we must move beyond net zero and commit to genuine emissions reduction.

Extending high-emitting projects like the North West Shelf is not a credible long-term climate solution – it’s a step backward. More than that, it raises serious questions about how we define climate ambition in Australia.

We need to ask ourselves why we are rewarding companies that continue to burn fossil fuels, instead of incentivising those that are leading the way on decarbonisation. Every year, Australia pours billions into fossil fuel subsidies – public funds that should be redirected toward eliminating emissions.

Benita Kolovos

New Victorian chief health officer appointment

The Victorian government has appointed Dr Caroline McElnay, the former director of public health in New Zealand, as the state’s chief health officer.

McElany led the New Zealand response to Covid-19 alongside then prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, and has previously worked in the UK.

The state health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, said McElany was appointed to the role due to her strong background in communicable diseases, environmental health and epidemiology. She said McElany also had a focus on increasing child immunisation rates in New Zealand, which is also “a priority for Victoria”.

The appointment marks the second high-profile New Zealander to take on a senior public role in Victoria in recent months. The Former New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush was recently named as the chief commissioner of Victoria police.

McElnay will take over from the current acting chief health officers, Dr Christian McGrath and Dr Evelyn Wong, in August.

Josh Butler

PM says North West Shelf gas approval ‘based on very strict conditions’ and says Indigenous traditional owners have ‘different views’ on the issue

Anthony Albanese also dialled into ABC Brisbane radio this morning to gloat about the State of Origin result, as well as comment on his Labor government’s approval of an extension to the massive North West Shelf gas project.

Asked about the concerns of Indigenous traditional owners in the region, and implications for climate change and emissions, Albanese defended his government’s decision to approve the enormous extension to the fossil fuel project.

“I’ve met with the Indigenous traditional owners there, around Dampier, around that region, and there are different views, let me say, on that issue,” Albanese said.

We have made a preliminary finding. Murray Watt, as the Federal minister, had to look at some of the issues which are there. He has made a preliminary determination, out there for comment, that is based upon very strict conditions, as well being provided.

The PM went on to lay out Labor’s record on the environment and their progress on the renewable energy transition.

“When we look at the overall issue, if you take a step back, we are already more than halfway to delivering on our commitment of 82% renewables by 2030, in the energy grid. We’re up to 46% as we’re speaking here,” Albanese said.

Now, in order to get that investment in renewables, you do need firming capacity, whether it be batteries, hydro or gas, and that is what will encourage that investment and the transition to occur in Western Australia. They are closing their last coal-fired power station at Collie in 2027, they are moving to renewables backed by gas, and that will be a really important part of the transition that will occur.

Man charged with murder over fatal house fire in Sydney’s inner west

A man has been charged with murder after a house fire that killed an 80-year-old man in Croydon, Sydney’s inner west, yesterday.

Emergency services arrived at Irrara Street just after 4am yesterday to a house well-alight, NSW police said in a statement. Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze.

The body of a man was found inside. It is believed to be that of an 80-year-old man who lived there.

Officers appealed to locate a 50-year-old man who also lived at the house. Later police were notified a man allegedly threatened staff with a machete before taking cigarettes at a service station on Parramatta Road, Haberfield, at 4:20am yesterday.

The a 50-year-old man was arrested at Woy Woy about 7:40pm last night. Police allegedly found a machete concealed in his pants.

The man has been charged with murder and domestic violence related damage of property with the intent to endanger life, as well as armed robbery.

He was refused bail to appear before Gosford local court today.

The margin is down to just two votes in the electorate of Bradfield, as a recount of votes sees Liberal Gisele Kapterian in the lead.

Electoral analyst Dr Kevin Bonham said yesterday independent candidate Nicolette Boele was showing a “net gain” on the recount – meaning she gained more votes than she lost as they were re-examined.

Paterson says Ley has signalled emissions reduction ‘is an important part of our agenda’

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has “signalled that emissions reduction is an important part of our agenda,” Paterson says.

The shadow finance minister was asked whether he would be comfortable if his party dumped net zero targets on ABC RN earlier this morning:

I’m not going to express a personal view, because we are now going through a policy review process following the election, and well before the next election, over the next three years, will outline all of our policies in this and other areas.

But Sussan has signaled that emissions reduction is an important part of our agenda, because she’s appointed my colleague, Dan Tehan, [as] the shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction, and it will continue to be an important priority.

Shadow finance minister says Coalition must to be strong on the economy to return to government

Paterson says the Liberal party “must have a strong lead over Labor on the economy” in order to return to government.

The new shadow finance minister said on ABC RN:

The economy is traditionally a strong brand … for the Liberal party. And if we are ever to return to government at the federal level, we must have a very strong lead over Labor on the economy, and that means better management of the economy overall, but better budget management as well.

I think it’s critically important that we make sure that our liberal values when it comes to the economy are in line with our policies. We need to make sure that we are always the party of lower taxes, and that we are always the party of stronger budgets.

Paterson says shadow cabinet appointments ‘a political process’

Paterson says he is disappointed for former education minister Sarah Henderson who was demoted to the backbench, “who did a great job in her portfolio and is a valued colleague as well”.

He also acknowledges senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price “would have preferred to be in shadow cabinet”.

Asked about her saying some appointments in the new coalition frontbench were not made on merit, Paterson told ABC RN:

We’d all like to be in shadow cabinet, but [Jacinta Nampijinpa Price] has been given a significant and senior role. Merit is the most important consideration in a reshuffle, but I’d be lying if I said merit is the only consideration.

This is a political process, and leaders have to balance states, they have to balance the house, representatives of the Senate. They have to balance gender. They have to balance the philosophical composition of their party rooms, and that’s no different for Labor or Liberal and it is a messy process sometimes, but I think Susan’s put together a really great team, and I’m really excited about some of the new colleagues that are stepping up into significant roles …

Paterson: ‘There’s always a bit of awkwardness in politics’

The shadow minister for finance and public service, James Paterson, says there is “always a bit of awkwardness in politics,” talking about his move into Jane Hume’s former portfolios.

Paterson spoke on ABC Radio National this morning:

There’s always a bit of awkwardness in politics. There always is a transition and a handover, often from someone who didn’t want to leave their portfolio or is expecting to do a different role.

All I can do, though, is work constructively with Jane to continue the good work that she did with her team in the portfolio, and now to hold Labor account for their performance in this area.

Dan Jervis-Bardy

PM has ‘no doubt’ Queensland will rebound after Origin defeat

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is doing a couple of Brisbane FM radio spots this morning, starting with KIIS 97.3.

Unsurprisingly, Albanese – a New South Welshman – is asked about his state’s 18-6 win in the State of Origin opener on Wednesday night.

Albanese said:

It was a good game but it’s only the first of three (matches). (Former NSW coach) Wayne Pearce was telling us last night … the last time that New South Wales won three-nil was 25 years ago. So Queensland will come back, no doubt about that

The state of Queensland swung behind Labor at this month’s federal election, with then even opposition leader Peter Dutton losing his seat as the Liberal vote collapsed in the state’s south-east. Asked if he felt sorry for this vanquished political rival, Albanese said: “absolutely”:

It’s a tough game – you lose your job. On a personal level, I had an OK relationship. I’m not going to gild the lily, but you know we had a respectful relationship.

Ley says she is working ‘productively and respectively’ with David Littleproud because ‘that’s what the Australian people would expect of us’

Ley says she is working productively with David Littleproud “because that’s what the Australian people would expect of us”.

The opposition leader was asked if she would have preferred to sit alongside Michael McCormack as Nationals leader. Ley tells ABC News Breakfast:

I’ll work with whoever is elected and I’m working very productively and respectfully with David because that’s what the Australian people would expect of us – to be that united team going forward. Remember – we’re here to work for them.

Asked about Jane Hume’s demotion from the frontbench, Ley says:

Everyone did not achieve a role in the shadow ministrial lineup. Jane is a terrific colleague and someone who will continue to do outstanding work representing the state of Victoria as a Senator. But this isn’t about who is sitting at what table and what role they have. It’s broader than that, Bridget. It’s about even of the 54 members of our party room having a role to play.

Asked if Hume was punished for her advocacy on work-from-home, Ley says “this is not about that”:

This is about putting the best team on the field and respecting Jane’s talents, everyone’s talents. The communication skills of so many of my team mean that they will feature prominently across the debate and carry that argument and that advocacy forward.

Asked about why there were fewer women in shadow cabinet, Ley tells ABC News Breakfast:

Look, 40% of my shadow ministry is made up of women … The party is led by a woman. When we make the calls that we need to, I will be at the table for every single one of those big calls.

I will see those decisions through the prism of someone who, in my life, has worked hard, has saved hard, who’s had trials and tribulations, but who understands what it’s like to be a working mum, balancing home, family, job, rushing between here and there, being a carer and looking after your community as a volunteer as well. To bring that perspective to every decision that we make is a really important thing and one I’m looking forward to doing.

Ley says reformed Coalition presents a ‘very strong united team’

Asked about the short-lived Nationals-Liberal split, Ley says the Coalition reforming presents “a very strong united team”.

The leader of the opposition is speaking on ABC News Breakfast:

We had disagreements and they have been ventilated and they have been commented on. The most important thing is that when David Littleproud and I stood up yesterday to announce that the Coalition was officially reforming, we present a very strong united team on behalf of all of the Australian communities who sent us to Canberra to represent them, from the city to the bush to the suburbs, to every single corner of this country, and we want to work together because we are stronger together.

Whether you voted for Anthony Albanese or whether you voted for us, every Australian deserves, wants, and appreciates a strong opposition to actually take the arguments and the advocacy up to the government every single day.

Ley says she will listen to the Australian people and not lecture ‘from the top-down’

The leader of the opposition, Sussan Ley, says she won’t “lecture from the top-down” when asked how her leadership style will compare to Peter Dutton’s. She is speaking on ABC News Breakfast:

I said we would do things differently and I would bring a fresh approach, and I intend to be very consultative, very approachable, and to listen carefully, not just to my colleagues in the party room who have a vital role developing policy, harnessing the extraordinary talents that they all bring to that room, but listening to the Australian people, not lecturing from the top-down, listening from the ground-up.

I’m known for my work ethic. Australians would expect that from us. It’s tough times for many Australians out there. We got a tough message from them at the last election and we need to approach communities that we seek to represent with humility, understanding and above all, that listening and engagement.

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, says he will “put the heat” on insurance companies “to make sure that they’re good on their claims” when asked about the Insurance Council calling for a $30bn flood defence fund earlier this morning. Speaking on ABC Radio National, Minns said:

Well, that’s a lot of money. I’d have to examine the details.

Look, we work with the Insurance Council, and I’m not going to come on your program and thump them, but I do have to say, I don’t think a solution to this from the Insurance Council is to say, early on in this natural disaster, ‘oh, we don’t think we can cover a lot of this, notwithstanding people having long term policies, the federal and state government should tip in $30bn.’

Everyone’s going to have to do their part … and that means insurance companies will have to step up and pay out claims quickly. And I don’t say that without evidence. I’ve spoken to families, family businesses in Tari who had settled flood claims from 2021 three months ago, and that is way, way too long for a policy to be honoured by insurance companies. And I’ll be putting the heat on them to make sure that they’re good on their claims.