Stories from Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is proposing legislation to charge technology companies for using Australian news text and images. The bill targets tech firms generating more than 150 million euros in revenue within Australia.

Approximately five Australians were captured by Israeli Defence forces after several boats in the global Sumit Flotilla were intercepted near the coast.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole stated a criminal investigation is ongoing regarding a missing person case. A coronial process will now begin to establish facts. Police noted there will be limitations on public information due to the ongoing investigation.

Melbourne's Storm will play the Dolphins in Brisbane tomorrow night to attempt to end a six-game losing streak in the NRL. Coach Craig Bellamy stated that while training preparation has been good, it has not translated to performance on the field. This represents the longest losing run for the club under Bellamy's coaching. The Dolphins secured a 28-10 victory at Lang Park after overcoming a 10-0 halftime lead held by the Storm. This result marks a club record for consecutive defeats for the Storm. The Storm held a 10-0 lead midway through the match before the Dolphins came from behind to win. The Storm held an initial 10-0 lead midway through the first half but failed to score for the remainder of the game. The Melbourne Storm lost 28-10 to the Dolphins during round 9 of the NRL. The match took place at Suncorp Stadium before a crowd of over 24,000 fans.

The New South Wales Teachers Federation has called on the education minister to halt a departmental shakeup of school attendance policy. The federation described the changes as a reckless departmental shakeup. They argued the current homeschool liaison office teacher role is critical for reintegrating tens of thousands of students who struggled to return to school post-COVID. The federation stated the Department of Education has not provided an evidence base to justify the changes. The New South Wales Teachers Federation reports that more than 100 specially trained teachers intended to improve school attendance rates are being replaced with untrained clerks. This move affects the New South Wales education system.

An interim inquiry report has made 14 recommendations following the Bondi Beach terror attack in December 2025. A Jewish community leader in Australia stated that the responsibility for protection should not fall solely on the community. A commentator stated that counter-terrorism funding has essentially been scaled down, which they described as. The speaker noted that the government must guarantee changes make Australia safer rather than more vulnerable. The report highlights systemic failures and recommends increased funding following a terrorism threat level raised to 'probable' in August 2024. The report notes that the terrorism threat was raised to 'probable' in August 2024, indicating a greater than 50% chance of an attack. A local police commander was contacted regarding concerns of copycat attacks in areas like St Ives.

A majority of tunnel construction workers face exposure to hazardous silica dust. This dust can cause incurable diseases including silicosis and lung cancer. University of Sydney researcher Kate Cole stated that despite workers being aware of the dangers, studies show ongoing issues preventing effective dust control. The exposure is attributed to project time pressures. Researcher Kate Cole stated that 14% of respondents have been impacted by the dust. Most workers reported difficulties in implementing effective prevention measures.

Alex Rivchen, Co-Chief Executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, stated that a Royal Commission should investigate how police resourcing decisions were made ahead of the Bondi event. Actions taken include bolstering security agency resources, tackling anti-Semitism, cracking down on hate preachers, and delivering tougher gun laws. Albanese noted that the government brought parliament back in January to pursue these measures, though full parliamentary support for all objectives was not achieved. The inquiry follows a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in the United Kingdom. The source described the situation in the UK as a national security emergency. The shooting, which occurred during a Hanukkah celebration, killed 15 people and was Australia's deadliest mass shooting in 30 years.

Woolworths reported third-quarter sales of $18.1 billion, exceeding expectations. The supermarket giant recorded a 4.5 percent increase in sales. The company stated its prices were a factor in the performance.

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell stated the team is experiencing its best run in a decade following a 49-point victory over the Gold Coast Suns. The team is scheduled to play Collingwood at the MCG.