Key Points
- ADF to assist repatriation of Australians in Iran, Israel
- Prime Minister will not go to NATO summit next week
- Jeremy McGovern retires from AFL on medical grounds
TRANSCRIPT
The military is being called in to help Australians trying to leave Iran and Israel, after the US gave itself two weeks to decide on whether to join the conflict between the Middle Eastern nations.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the government is not sending in the Australian Defence Force in combat roles, but only to assist citizens and residents.
She says the defence personnel and aircraft are part of contingency evacuation plans - if and when the now-closed airspace in Israel and Iran reopens.
Senator Wong has also confirmed she has spoken with her U-S counterpart - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio - about the crisis.
"We had a good discussion. We had a good discussion about the way through this conflict and a good discussion about issues in the Australia US relationship and our bilateral cooperation. I emphasize there is an opportunity, given what President Trump has said, there is an opportunity over the next two weeks for de-escalation dialogue and diplomacy."
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has decided he will not go to Europe next week, skipping a meeting of NATO world leaders at the Hague.
The meeting would have been a potential opportunity to meet Donald Trump face-to-face, in long-awaited talks over tariffs.
Instead, Foreign Minister Richard Marles will represent Australia, as was originally planned, before Mr Albanese considered a last-minute trip.
An anticipated meeting between the Australian and U-S leaders was delayed when Mr Trump left the G7 conference early, due to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
Earlier, the Opposition urged the Prime Minister to attend the NATO summit, saying it was a timely opportunity to put forward Australia's argument to remove tariffs imposed by the United States.
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South Australian police have arrested a 34-year-old woman after a man’s body was found inside a house in Port Lincoln, west of Adelaide.
The woman, also from Port Lincoln, has been charged with the man's murder.
The body was found after police and emergency services were called to the property yesterday afternoon after reports of a small fire.
Police believe both the man and woman are known to each other and there are no community safety concerns.
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New South Wales Police have released CCTV footage as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged fatal stabbing of a man in Sydney’s south-west earlier this year.
34-year-old James Pakis was found by police with multiple stab wounds at a home in Belmore in Sydney's West in March 2025.
A 21-year-old man was later arrested at Bankstown Police Station and charged with murder, and he remains before the courts.
Detective Inspector Craig Brooks says he hopes the CCTV footage will prompt people to come forward with information.
"The investigation is ongoing and police believe a black Honda Jazz, which was seen in a nearby street shortly after the murder with a damage rear windscreen with occupants on board. Those occupants may have knowledge of this murder, and police are now seeking assistance to identify them and the whereabouts of that vehicle.
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A phone service for refugees in Australia says demand has risen as conflicts have intensified around the world.
Jorge Aroche is a clinical psychologist and CEO of STARTTS, which provides culturally relevant mental health support and psychology treatment to people displaced by persecution.
The organisation's phone service - the Witness to War Hotline - was launched 18 months ago to provide a confidential outlet for those impacted by conflict.
Mr Aroche says the service has already taken 2000 calls - and the numbers have grown steadily.
"We've been approached by many communities. Probably the biggest one has been Arabic speakers, certainly after the conflict with everything that is happening in Gaza. Ukrainian has been a very big group, Afghanistan. We have had many people from the Jewish community. Well, since Monday we've had 35 calls from the Iranian community."
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New South Wales Health has confirmed a case of measles in Sydney, after an infectious person travelled through Sydney Airport on Monday.
The agency is urging people who arrived on a Vietnam Airlines flight at 8 a-m Monday to be alert to possible symptoms.
The infected passenger also spent time at the airport's baggage collection area.
Measles is an infectious, airborne disease with symptoms including a fever, runny nose, sore eyes and cough - as well as red marks on the skin.
Doctors say symptoms can take more than two weeks and up to 18 days to appear.
New South Wales Health recommends up-to-date Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccinations for anyone born after 1965.
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To sport and in AFL, five-time All-Australian star and West Coast Eagles star, Jeremy McGovern, is retiring from the game.
The 33-year-old says he is gutted by the decision, made by the AFL concussion panel on medical grounds.
McGovern is hanging up his boots after 197 games.
His family, club and medical staff have been involved in discussions with the player in the lead-up to his retirement.
