Key Points
- Penny Wong joins world leaders urging Iran to de-escalate
- Environment legislation reform on the agenda
- Queensland's captain praises coach Billy Slater after win
TRANSCRIPT
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is reiterating calls by US President Donald Trump, urging Iran to come to the table to negotiate as its conflict with Israel escalates.
As Australia works to repatriate citizens requesting assistance in the Middle East, some have already been evacuated from Israel overnight.
Ms Wong says around 1,500 Australians in Iran who have registered for assistance, compared to roughly 1,200 in Israel.
The Foreign Minister says it is not too late to de-escalate the situation and broker peace between the countries before the effects are felt across the region and the globe.
"Iran has a choice here and the choice should be to return to the table and engage in dialogue and diplomacy. We see the situation there and as tough as their words may be, I think we all know the situation that they face and it is time for them to return to the table."
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Three men will appear at a Western Sydney court today, charged over allegedly profiting 10 million dollars from the sale of counterfeit luxury goods.
The criminal group allegedly sold the fake high-end branded clothing, watches, shoes and handbags on social media.
Police seized millions of dollars’ worth of cars and 500 luxury goods from properties in Sydney's West - as well as a gel-blaster firearm.
Police claim a syndicate was operating to stockpile wealth illegally and undermine legitimate businesses.
The proceeds of the alleged crimes will be recovered, and police aim to return it to those impacted.
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Environment Minister Murray Watt is meeting with over 20 conservation, industry and First Nations groups to try and restart negotiations on reforming Australia's environment laws.
The government promised to overhaul the legislation in its first term, but failed to achieve the changes, which included the creation of a national environmental protection agency.
Labor had been negotiating with the Greens in the Senate to pass the reforms when West Australian Premier Roger Cook intervened to voice concerns for the mining sector.
Mr Watt says everyone agrees that the laws aren't working - either for the environment or business - and it's imperative the reform is achieved.
"I think the task is to build on the work that's been done. Clearly, not everything has been solved. Clearly, there are still areas of disagreement that we'll need to work through. But having spoken to many of you, what really strikes me is that there is also quite a lot of common ground. No one yet has told me they don't support the notion of National Environmental Standards. No one is saying that they want approvals to take as long as they are now, or even longer. So there is some common ground there. Of course, it's when you get into the detail that it becomes a bit harder to solve."
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A new Climate Change Authority report has revealed that extreme weather disasters will cost Australians $8.7 billion a year by 2050.
The report which examines the severity of flooding, bushfires, extreme storms and coastal erosion, calls for national leadership on adaptation to address climate risks.
Back-to-back disasters have cost the Australian economy $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025 alone.
Climate Change Authority Chair, Matt Kean, says authorities will need to review and tighten building codes.
The Authority’s report calls for governments to implement new changes including making the right investments and ensuring standards, laws and regulations are fit-for-purpose for a changing climate.
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Tasmania Police said they would speak today with the suspect who allegedly shot police officer Keith Smith earlier in the week.
Commissioner Donna Adams said police expect to lay charges soon.
"It's important that we remember that we are in the early stage of a criminal investigation. We hope with the advice from the medical practitioners at the Launceston General Hospital to be in a position to speak with the offender with a view of hopefully laying charged towards the end of the day."
Commissioner Adams says there will be a police funeral for Mr Smith, but the date is yet to be confirmed.
Constable Keith Smith was shot dead, and his colleague was injured, while on active duty in Tasmania's north-west on Monday.
It's the first shooting death of a Tasmanian police officers in the past hundred years.
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In the NRL, Queensland captain Cameron Munster says public criticism of Billy Slater galvanized the Maroons in the lead up to last night's win in the second State of Origin game.
Slater's roller-coaster 42nd birthday ended with a 26-24 victory on Wednesday night, 12 hours after he issued a public apology for a comment regarding the late Paul Green.
The criticism was also enough to spur on the Maroons, with Munster revealing how players wanted to stand up and play for the former Queensland fullback turned coach.
"At the end of the day, he's our coach, and he's done everything he can and ticked the boxes for us, and we didn't perform for him in game one, and he got a lot of slack for it, and lot of stuff in the media, and he didn't deserve it. I played with Bill. He's a champion player and champion coach, and I've had a great relationship with him, and still do, and we're really close mates and when you have someone jabbing at him like that, it really hurts, hurts me personally, and I never tell him that, but now, I'm probably telling him now, and I love him, and I just want to do the best thing for Queensland and best thing for him."
