Australia news live: Angus Taylor says Coalition looking to add ‘antisemitism’ question to citizenship test; new Tasmanian Devils mascot draws mixed reaction
Taylor says Coalition may introduce ‘antisemitism’ question to citizenship test
Angus Taylor also said the Coalition was looking to add an “antisemitism” question to the citizenship test:
We have already said [we] will strengthen our citizenship test to make sure there is a specific question there, [a] criterion around antisemitism, because we have seen rampant antisemitism in this country. It’s completely unacceptable.
And those coming to this country, we need to be confident that they’re not going to perpetuate that unacceptable behaviour that we have seen in recent times.
Key events
Motorists urged to stay off roads in north-east Queensland amid heavy rain
Heavy rainfall will continue across north-east Queensland this morning.
According to the Queensland Fire Department, Fire and Rescue’s swiftwater crews have already been called to multiple vehicles in flood water. It wrote on X:
If you need to be on the roads today, please stay safe and do not enter floodwater. If it’s flooded, forget it.
Canadian prime minister announces deal with Australia to boost Arctic radar
The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has announced a C$6bn deal with Australia to develop an Arctic radar system.
As AFP reports, Carney made the announcement on the final leg of his first official trip as prime minister since taking over from Justin Trudeau last week.
Carney – who has previously described the US under Donald Trump as a country Canada “can no longer trust” – characterised the radar deal as part of a broader effort to assert Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic.
The world is changing. International institutions and norms that have kept Canada secure are now being called into question. And the United States’ priorities, our ally, once closely aligned with our own, are beginning to shift. We cannot and should not look first to others to defend our nation.
Australia is a leader in “over-the-horizon” radar, an advanced system that allows for continuous threat-tracking over a vast area. Carney’s office said in a statement announcing the deal:
The radar system’s long-range surveillance and threat tracking capabilities will detect and deter threats across the north.
Victorian energy minister denies suggestions of talks to extend Yallourn coal power plant
Benita Kolovos
Victoria’s energy minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, has denied claims in a report in The Australian that suggests the state government asked the operator of the Yallourn coal power plant to extend operations beyond its mid-2028 closure date.
The report, published last night, suggested there was a discussion between EnergyAustralia, the Victorian Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (Deeca) and the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) amid “fears of devastating electricity shortages”.
But in a statement, D’Ambrosio said Deeca, Aemo and EnergyAustralia had all confirmed that the claims are wrong:
The three agencies also confirm that no such discussions have occurred and nor have there been ‘rolling talks’. Aemo has not advised the Victorian government that Yallourn would need to be extended beyond 2028, as claimed in The Australian. Before publication, EnergyAustralia confirmed to The Australian that the plant would close in 2028.
She said the Australian did not contact the Victorian government for comment prior to publication.
In 2021, EnergyAustralia announced it would close the station in 2028 – four years earlier than planned – and built a battery at a nearby gas-fired plant to compensate for the loss.
Yallourn produces about a fifth of Victoria’s electricity and is the state’s oldest power station.
Marles asked about diplomatic approach to Israel after latest deadly strikes on Gaza
Back on Gaza, Richard Marles was asked if there would be any diplomatic approach to Israel about ending or pausing the fighting. He responded:
We’ve consistently used our voice, bilaterally in respect of Israel, but internationally as well, around supporting a ceasefire – about supporting humanitarian efforts for those in Gaza. But also, importantly, seeing the return of the hostages to Israel.
The steps that Hamas took back on October 7 in 2023 were utterly unacceptable. They were an act of terror. It was completely reprehensible and we’ve stood in condemnation of Hamas and we continue to do that.
We need to see the return of hostages to Israel. We need to see humanitarian assistance flowing to the people of Gaza. And we need to see an end to this conflict.
Marles says Putin needs to be held to account for being ‘aggressor’
Richard Marles was also up on ABC News Breakfast this morning, and was asked if Vladimir Putin could actually be trusted to stand by any ceasefire proposal.
The deputy PM said: “At the end of the day, [Putin is] the reason why this conflict started in the first place”:
He is the aggressor here. He is the one who has completely flouted the global rules-based order by the invasion of Ukraine in the first place. So it’s very important that whatever is put in place absolutely holds Vladimir Putin to account.
Australia will continue pushing US for tariff exemption, Marles says
Richard Marles was also asked if the trade minister, Don Farrell, had been able to make a deal with Trump, to secure an exemption for Australia from tariffs on aluminium and steel.
The deputy PM said the United States is doing “what they said they were going to do … as far back as the lead-up to the last US election”:
What matters here is that we are doing everything we can to be arguing for Australian trade, and we’ll continue to do that.
Is it going to work? Marles responded: “Let’s see what happens.”
Last time it took the better part of nine months before there were any exemptions provided to Australia. We will continue to make the argument to the United States about the importance of trade.
Marles says Australia will ‘exercise its voice’ to see ceasefire maintained in Middle East
Moving to Gaza, Richard Marles said the ceasefire breakdown is “very disappointing” and Australia wanted to “see the entire terms of the ceasefire fulfilled”.
And to be clear, that does mean the return of hostages to Israel. That was part of the terms of the ceasefire …
I think for all of us, there has been so much death in the Middle East over such a long period of time. Now, we don’t want to see this continue and we’ll be exercising our voice to see that a ceasefire is maintained.
Marles says Ukraine needs to be able to ‘resolve this on their own terms’
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, has responded to news Vladimir Putin has agreed to a limited ceasefire against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – but declined to commit to a month-long full truce, after a high-stakes phone call with Donald Trump.
Marles told the Today Show that Russia should “not [be] rewarded in what is put forward here and how this plays out”:
We do want to see peace, but it can’t be peace on any terms. At the end of the day, Russia are the aggressors here. Russia are the ones who have done wrong. And we need to be standing with Ukraine and Ukraine needs to be able to resolve this on their terms.
AFL draws mixed reactions with new Tasmanian Devils mascot
The AFL has unveiled the new mascot for the Tasmanian Devils – Rum’un – and it’s safe to say it has drawn some … mixed reactions.
Some X users have called the mascot a “joke”, something “out of a horror movie” and a piñata. One person said “I want to cry”, another said it looked reminiscent of AI, while another mused “it looks like Wes Anderson greenlit a sequel to Fantastic Mr Fox”.
There have been some interesting comparisons in the Guardian office this morning – to the Ferals TV show, Where the Wild Things Are, and the Big Banksia from Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Others have been more welcoming of the new mascot:
I love Rum’un. Justice for Rum’un.
Taylor defends cost of potential referendum, says Coalition would make budget position stronger
Back to the Coalition’s referendum suggestion – ABC RN host Sally Sara asked if it was appropriate to float this idea in the middle of the cost-of-living crisis, given the last one cost more than $400m and the Coalition was critical of this spending.
Angus Taylor said the Coalition would “make sure that our budget position is stronger than Labor’s”:
[We will] re-establish fiscal rules to make sure that we have a strong budget position to be able to pay for the essential services, for defending the country, for all the things that we need.
Taylor denied the opposition had not released enough economic policies in the lead-up to the election. He pointed to the Coalition’s opposition to “Labor spending”, and a “series” of policies to “get rid of unnecessary red tape”.
They are the policies we’ve been announcing. We will continue to.
Taylor says Coalition may introduce ‘antisemitism’ question to citizenship test
Angus Taylor also said the Coalition was looking to add an “antisemitism” question to the citizenship test:
We have already said [we] will strengthen our citizenship test to make sure there is a specific question there, [a] criterion around antisemitism, because we have seen rampant antisemitism in this country. It’s completely unacceptable.
And those coming to this country, we need to be confident that they’re not going to perpetuate that unacceptable behaviour that we have seen in recent times.
Taylor says referendum on deporting dual citizens ‘not our policy’
The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, has been asked to clarify if a referendum on giving ministers the ability to deport dual citizens who commit a serious crime is actually Coalition policy.
As Josh Butler reports, at 7am yesterday Peter Dutton was publicly discussing reports of his suggestion for this. But by mid-morning, the opposition leader’s shadow attorney general, Michaelia Cash, was telling media the party had “no plans to hold a referendum at this stage”.
Speaking to ABC RN just now, Taylor said “we’ll always look at any option that might ensure that Australians are safe”:
Now this is not our policy, but it is something – like any option that will ensure that Australians are safe – that we’re prepared to consider.
For the whole timeline of this “thought bubble”, as the prime minister has labelled it, you can have a read below:
Sinodinos describes ‘tussle’ between Trump and Netanyahu on ‘who will get the upper hand’
On what is occurring in Gaza – after more than 400 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight – Arthur Sinodinos said:
President Trump has leverage over prime minister Netanyahu, but prime minister Netanyahu is determined to do things his way. So it’s an interesting tussle between these two characters as to who will get the upper hand.
Former ambassador to US says Russia-Ukraine negotiations ‘never going to be solved in 24 hours’
The former ambassador to the US, Arthur Sinodinos, says Russia is trying to draw ceasefire negotiations out “as long as they can to get as many concessions as they can get”.
Vladimir Putin has agreed to a limited ceasefire against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but the Russian leader declined to commit to a month-long full truce, after a high-stakes phone call with Donald Trump.
Speaking on the Today Show, Sinodinos said Russians are “very good at drawing this process out” while Trump is “impatient”, adding:
He showed he was impatient with that contretemps with Zelenskyy at the White House. But this is negotiating with the Russians – this is what it’s all about. That’s why it was never going to be solved in 24 hours.
Littleproud: nuclear is ‘what Coalition will transition to’ with focus on gas in short term
The housing minister, Clare O’Neil, and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, were both up on Sunrise this morning to discuss the latest polling numbers on the Coalition’s nuclear policy.
A new RedBridge poll has found the portion of voters who believe nuclear energy is unsafe has increased from 35% in 2024 to 39% in 2025.
O’Neil took aim at the policy, arguing it has “gone into witness protection recently”.
We haven’t heard a lot about it. That is because it is an absolute dog of a policy. $600bn won’t deliver any power into the grid until the 2040s, and even when it does, it only helps us with 4% of our power needs as a country. So whatever issues people experience, please note nuclear is not the answer for our country, that is why our country is so strongly opposed to it.
Littleproud, however, defended the policy as “cheaper in the long term” and argued the short-term plan was to “flood the market with gas”.
So nuclear is what we’re saying we will transition to. In the short-term, the next 6-12 months, to get your power bill down and your grocery bill down … you have to get gas in. That is the only energy source to get in quickly to give you hope. That is the other part of our policy … we will be announcing more detail on it very soon.
Last year, Labor already announced that as part of its energy plan, gas would remain a central part of Australia’s energy and export sectors to 2050 and beyond.
Good morning
Emily Wind
Emily Wind here, signing on for the Australia news live blog – I’ll be taking you through all of our rolling coverage today.
As always, you can reach out with any tips or questions via email throughout the day: [email protected]. Let’s get into it.
Cait Kelly
Leigh says inequality challenge ‘not insurmountable’
Andrew Leigh will finish the speech by saying the challenge inequality creates is “not insurmountable”:
Australian history reminds us that inequality is never inevitable. It expands or shrinks based on the decisions we make collectively as a society. Together, we can create a society where dignity, justice, and opportunity are the lived reality for every Australian.
